CHILDREN AS ARTISTS
When young children feel they are competent creators, a sense of personal power
develops. They gain self-confidence in their abilities. Art exploration provides
a necessary step towards better motor control, eye/hand coordination and problem-solving
skills. This process of building knowledge through active investigation is
critical to brain development. As they create, children use multiple intelligences:
spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, mathematical/ logical, linguistic and socio-emotional. |
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Young children learn about their world and discover
its physical properties through their senses; they are natural “manipulators” of
materials and everyday objects. In art, they use a variety of materials
to explore color and form, to express their emotions and
thoughts, and to begin to represent their experiences. Their involvement
is open-ended with the artist determining the form and direction
of his or her work. Children can find a new way to use paint or
to spread glue while delighting in their creations. When children
choose their own activities, they are motivated to concentrate and
focus longer while having fun!
As parents and teachers, our job is to supply a work space in a
supportive environment with interesting materials. At times we are
guides or mentors, helping children master tools and materials so
they can represent their ideas more easily.
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OPEN ART BINS:
At Buen Día we follow a dynamic, interactive approach
between the students, the teachers and the art media. A variety
of materials, including recycled items, are available to
the children for their use on an on-going basis. Items are
stored on reachable shelves to foster children’s independent
choice. Tape, string, markers, envelopes, glue, paint and
staplers are available at our child-level workstation. Children
combine and create their own forms by selecting materials
of their choice. They have full mastery of design and combination
of materials. A teacher is available to help them realize
their concepts. |
Bins can be categorized in a few basic ways:
Paper
Recycled computer paper, construction paper, cardboard, art tissue,
crepe paper, file folders, recycled envelopes (different sizes,
colors, weights, textures.)
Tools
Glue, paste, crayons, markers, pencils, staplers, masking tape,
colored tape, clear tape, chalk, scissors (right and left handed),
paper clips, hole punchers and stamps.
Materials
Paper scraps, recycled magazines and postcards, old photos,
Fabric (silk, fake fur, wood, felt burlap, cotton),
Buttons, washers, bottle caps, beads, corks, film canisters,
Yarn, thread, ribbon, string, cord, small boxes,
Leaves, twigs, acorns, bark, feathers
Wood scraps, linoleum samples and other recycled items (pcv pipes)
Working with different kinds of materials enhances the learning
process; some are soft or hard, rough or smooth, long or short,
heavy or light, natural or man-made. Children tape tubes together,
staple paper on cardboard, tie strings on feathers, glue cellophane
on envelopes and wrap boxes. They create objects that relate to
their play including pretend cell phones, rocket ships, presents,
bracelets and airplanes. When children invent their own creations
for direct use in their play, they focus with intent and develop
their small muscles, hand-eye coordination, artistic understanding
and problem-solving skills. These activities give them a sense of
achievement and pride.
There is an endless number and variety of projects which are included
under art. Some are open-ended; some are more directed. All help
develop hand-eye coordination and some are directly related to
pre-reading skills.
ART ACTIVITIES:
Paper
easel painting
drawing
collage
sculpture (wood, box, wire)
mobiles
finger painting
sewing
modeling (clay, play dough, soap)
stringing beads
cutting and pasting
dyeing fabric and paper
puppetry
printing (vegetables, blocks, sponges, leaves)
mask making
simple weaving
stenciling
crayon melting
book making
papel picado
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