Unschooling the Practical Arts

One great thing about unschooling is that life is learning and “school” is always in session. This weekend we attended an Arts and Crafts festival in town and it was great. There were all sorts of artist there, painter, sculptors, jewelers etc… The girls watched pottery demonstrations, talked with artists and saw various types of art for sale. We even had a long discussion with a fisherman flies for fly fishing.

The highlight of the festival was the craft booth where kids could make masks, paint and stamp on paper, make water-color leaves and for a $5 donation tie dye a shirt. We went in for the tie dying and the girls each made a shirt.

Even though I’m not a practicing artist I spent my college career studying art and the arts are important to me. Museums are wonderful resources but there is something extra special about showing them the practical application of the arts. Making them aware that the things around us aren’t just there but they have been designed by or created by someone.

Are the arts important to your unschoolers? How do you guide and facilitate them in regards to the arts? I’d love to hear your ideas.