The Preschooler

Using Stencils

Stencils are a great way to encourage children to practice fine motor skills while creating a quick and easy piece of art.  However, stencils require some practice and coordination so they can be frustrating at first.  here are some tips for using stencils with your preschool child:

• As they are first learning to use stencils, try taping the stencil to the paper so that it doesn’t move around and you are not stuck holding the stencil in place.  Once they have mastered this technique, try removing the tape, and show children how to hold the stencil with their non-dominant hand.
• Start with large open shapes several inches wide before attempting to trace small letters, numbers or shapes.
• Allow children to trace the inside of the stencil or simply color it in according to their preference.  However, encourage children to try both methods and demonstrate each.
• Try using reverse stencils that require children to trace around the outside of a shape rather than color in an empty space in the middle.
• Experiment with different mediums.  Instead of pencils, crayons, or markers, try paint brushes or bingo dabbers.
• Encourage children to make entire scenes using several stencils rather than making just one shape.  Adding sky, grass, water, etc. can also get your child’s creative juices flowing.

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Written by BRWI Staff on July 12, 2010