10 Ways to Celebrate Youth Art Month With Your Family

Every March since 1961, the creative community has rallied together to celebrate Youth Art Month. The whole point is to support art programs, encourage kids to get creative, and uplift young artists everywhere. At Artkive, Youth Art Month speaks directly to everything we believe in. We exist because kids' art is important and worth preserving.

That's why all month long, we're providing ideas and inspiration to help your family make the most of this time. To help you make the most of Youth Art Month, here are 10 fun ways to celebrate and let your kids' creativity shine all month long."

1. Host a Kids' Painting Party at Home

Set up a covered table, break out the brushes, and give everyone — yes, including the grown-ups — a canvas. This can be an intimate family activity, or a fun night for your pre-teen and their friends!

• Pick a loose theme to give kids direction without limiting them (think: "the ocean," "our neighborhood," or "something that makes you happy")

• Play music, serve snacks, and make the atmosphere feel like a real event

• Display the finished pieces together as a mini family gallery when they're dry
  

2. Start a March Mayhem Drawing Challenge

Encourage your kids to draw something every single day this month — no rules, no pressure, just a daily habit of putting pencil to paper. Some of the best kids' drawing ideas come from complete creative freedom.

• Keep a dedicated sketchbook or stack of paper just for the challenge

• Let kids draw whatever they want: their lunch, their pet, a made-up creature, a dream they had

• At the end of the month, flip through the pages together and notice how much they've grown just in 31 days
  

3. Create a "Master Artist" Reproduction Project

Pick a famous painting and challenge your kids to recreate it in their own style — using whatever art supplies you have at home.

• Browse a list of famous works together and let your child choose one that speaks to them

• Don't worry about accuracy — the whole point is their interpretation

• Display the original image next to their finished version for a side-by-side

For next-level inspiration, grab a "My Artist Box" from our friends at Kids Art Box. This series introduces kids to the works of Master Artists like Van Gogh, Gaudí, and Monet. The kits include all the supplies and guidance kids need to explore each artist's style firsthand.

4. Assemble Art Kits for Kids in Need

Build a custom art set and donate it to a local youth center, YMCA, or after-school program. Or, pass one along to a child in your life who would light up at the sight of a fresh set of supplies.

• Think beyond crayons: watercolors, oil pastels, brush pens, air-dry clay, and collage materials all make wonderful additions

• Include a blank sketchbook with a handwritten note encouraging them to fill every page

• For teens, consider leveling up with fine-liner pens, a set of brush markers, or specialty paper that feels grown-up and special

Donating a simple set of art supplies for kids can be the thing that keeps a young creative going.

5. Visit a Local Art Museum or Gallery

You'll find more galleries and museums across the country that celebrate Youth Art Month. In fact, many host special programming for kids and families throughout March.

• Check your local museum's calendar for Youth Art Month events, free admission days, or kids' workshops

• Before you go, ask your child what kind of art they're most excited to see; keep an eye out for it

• Bring a small notebook so they can sketch anything that inspires them while you're there

Experiencing real art in a real space can offer kids true inspiration, aspiration, and motivation.

6. Write and Illustrate a Family Storybook

Combine storytelling and art into one project that the whole family builds together.

• Have each person contribute one page — either written, illustrated, or both

• Let the story go wherever it wants to go (the weirder, the better)

• Bind the finished pages together and read them aloud as a family
  

7. Throw a Collaborative Mural Night

Roll out a long sheet of butcher paper across the floor or a wall and let everyone contribute. This can be a great activity for teens and small kids alike.

• Give each person a section to start, then rotate so everyone adds to each other's work

• Set a loose theme or let it evolve organically

• When it's finished, sign it like a real mural, date it, and find a wall to hang it

Once the mural is complete, you can display it indoors, on your patio, or along your fence.

8. Interview Your Kid About Their Art

This one is quieter than the others — but it might be the one you remember most. Surprisingly, kids often say profound things about their art. This idea makes space for them to give voice to their work.

• Sit down with your child and ask them to walk you through a piece of artwork they've made recently

• Ask open questions: What were you thinking about when you made this? What's your favorite part? What would you change?

• Record the  audio or video conversation on your phone
  

9. Turn Their Projects Into Wearable Art

Wearable art is one of the most fun (and immersive) things you can do with your kids' art this month.

• Have your kids create an original drawing, pattern, or even their own personal logo

• Upload the finished design to custom print platforms like Zazzle or Redbubble to create t-shirts, socks, tote bags, and more

• Order coordinating pieces for the whole family

Once you have your wearable art in hand, sport it proudly on your next family outing and become a walking gallery.

10. Make Art for a Cause

Some of the most meaningful things kids can create are the ones made with someone else in mind. This month, channel their creativity into a project that gives back to the community.

• Design handmade postcards or bookmarks to deliver to residents at a local nursing home

• Create ceramic/clay bowls for a community soup dinner, with proceeds supporting a local food bank

• Create handmade kids' art greeting cards, donate to a children's hospital, or any organization that could use some cheer

When kids make art for someone else, they can learn how art adds value to the world around them.

Let Artkive Help You Save Your Youth Art Month Masterpieces

All month long, your kids are going to make things worth keeping. Don't let Y.A.M. end with a pile of beautiful projects heading for the recycling bin. The art your kids make during this time deserves to stick around a lot longer than one month.

Let Artkive transform your kids' arts and crafts into a beautiful keepsake book that lives on your coffee table instead of inside a cardboard box. Enjoy every scribble and every art form, in one place, forever.

HAPPY YOUTH ART MONTH!