Cbeebies - Artbox

Artbox: The Website

Children can initiate activities that promote learning through choosing to enter the following sections:

Make it. : A step-by-step guide is provided for creating playthings, such as a fairy's wand and wings! The site encourages children to be as imaginative as possible and independent in their decision-making.

Print it : Printable sheets are provided for makes, for example, puppets. These activities offer great potential for imaginative follow-up play time. Adults can play an essential role in extending and supporting children's artistic decisions.

Play it : A choice of games is provided, for example, 'Dressing up box' is a Role Playing game. Here, children can choose who they would like to be! Children are also encouraged to explore colour-mixing and develop their own ideas (encouraging imagination is very important in the early years).

Visit it : This section provides information regarding relevant exhibitions-a good way to explore and investigate different techniques in art.

Discover it : Through stories children are introduced to famous artists, paintings and themes. Children can then choose answers to questions which are set to stimulate the child's imagination and to encourage visual exploration. Children can also make up stories from the pictures on show.

Picture it : Here, children can vote for their favourite children's picture in the gallery that will then be displayed on the homepage.

Artists' Tips : This section offers ideas on what sort of things from around the home to use in makes and crafts. There are also safety tips, advice for keeping artwork looking nice and for looking after brushes, pens and materials. Occasional features expand children's knowledge about an arty theme, with accompanying information for grown-ups.

The site is interactive and altogether satisfying for children, building on the strengths of the SMarteenies programme. Parents/carers can play an active part by supporting their children's creative choices and through entering this creative world themselves by drawing and painting (remember everyone can draw - what better time could there be for exploring this creative world anew)!