Lots of learning takes place during art creation. Children have the opportunity to make decisions about what colors and instruments to use, what should go where and how to create their vision. These are all Executive Skills. Art also gives children the opportunity, figure out how to move the paint brush, marker or sponge, the enhances fine motor development and allows children to practice pre-writing skills. Talking with children about their creations promotes develops vocabulary and promotes their mastery of expressive language.
Given all the benefits children can gain from art creation experiences, it is important that the finished product is 100% the child’s artistic expression. Ideal art activities in an Early Childhood setting are focused on what the child can imagine, create and discover from the activity. Not neccessarily on what the finished product looks like.
Works Cited
Gellens, Suzanne. (2015) Begin the School Year Using Open-ended Art, Dimensions of Early Childhood
