At Marion Abrams's summer art program in western Massachusetts, anywhere from 6 to 20 first to seventh graders arrive each day to experiment with art in all forms -- painting, drawing, collaging -- completing about 15 projects before week's end. Marion's primary goal for her students is to free them to create without self-consciousness. And 30 years as a public and private school art teacher have given her unique insight into bringing out inventiveness and originality in her students.

"I want the kids to learn that art is about losing your inhibition, expressing yourself, about not looking around the room to see if you're doing it the right way," says Marion. For those of us hoping to nurture that creativity in our own kids, here are some of her secrets and tips, plus five of her favorite projects: Charm Bags, Paper Mobiles, Box Buildings, Pastel Portraits, and the Ultimate Action Figure Template.