You can teach spatial relations, mixing of colors and visualization to young children through various art lessons. Collect a stack of used magazines and give your child a pair of safety scissors she can use to cut out pictures. After the child has cut out several pictures, help her paste the photos onto a large piece of construction paper. Encourage your child to fit the pictures together like a jigsaw puzzle, matching corners and lines so the pictures fit snugly together. Encourage your child to group photos of similar colors together. By grouping all the photos with different shades of blue together, you give your child the opportunity to see how similar shades of blue vary when placed side by side. This project will help to teach your child how to visualize different shapes fitting together, while allowing her to match colors.
Purchase several rolls of packing tape from your local hardware store. Using a large doll as a model, you and your child can create a doll-size sculpture. Begin by wrapping the doll's hand, while laying flat, in a layer of tape with the sticky side up, then apply four additional layers of tape with the sticky side down. Using safety scissors, carefully cut a line down the center of the tape so you can remove the hand. When the doll's hand is free, tape the taped hand back together. A packing tape replica of the hand should remain. Repeat the process on the doll's arms, legs and torso. To create the head, wrap everything in packing tape. Tape all of the pieces together when finished, and you will have a packing tape replica of the doll to display around the house.
Provide your child with close-up photos of animal skins and furs. Demonstrate mixing colors together to create the color of the animal he wants to paint. After he has the necessary colors, have him recreate the photo by painting on a piece of construction paper. When the paint has dried, place his hand on the paper and lightly trace its outline. Have the child paint the pattern on the page onto his hand, using the outline of his hand as an example. Place the child's hand over the painting when finished, pointing out how the hand is now camouflaged when against the painted background. Zebras, leopards, and parrots provide great patterns for your child to work with.
Purchase a selection of fruits and vegetables that exhibit a wide range of color and texture. Carrots, bell peppers, celery, apples, pears and grapes provide a wide assortment of color, and are firm enough not to fall apart when worked with. With your child, cut apart the food into different patterns of various shapes and sizes. Combine the different foods in fun and unique ways to create sculptures. Mix and match color and texture in your sculptures to provide contrast. Straightened paper clips are easily bendable and work well for holding your sculpture together, as do toothpicks and skewers. Try creating plant or animal shapes for added difficulty. When finished, your sculpture can become a fun and nutritious snack for both of you to enjoy.