When it comes to art, young children tend to be incredibly creative. Because they don’t know “the rules,” they’re not afraid to break them. Pink horses, square people, imaginary words to a tuneless song, a crazily mis-matched outfit: kids are free to be fearless!
Pablo Picasso put it succinctly: “Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist once one grows up.” Our biggest challenge as parents and educators is not to make kids more creative but to not teach them fear and shame.
It’s impossible to over-estimate how important art is to a child’s early development. Art is a great way to encourage open-ended play and to develop cognitive, emotional and sensorial skills. And for children as well as adults, a finished piece of art can be a treasure, both in the moment of production and as a feature artwork posted on the refrigerator.
When kids use paints and glue, they are experimenting and problem solving. When they mix paint, they are learning cause-and-effect. Art is a chance to make decisions and to express one’s self.
If you want to encourage children to remain creative, provide a variety of materials and couple that with the time and space to use them on their own. Try to observe rather than intervene and to let your child decide when the song, drawing or dance is complete.
Art is not just a crayon or a good song, although both are important. Introduce them to new materials and new ways to use them, then let your child decide what to create and how to make it.
Help kids think outside the box: what can we create with, well, a box, some yarn, some glitter and some glue? Try different media and different tools to see which types of art most interest your child.
If you look at the art of older children carefully, you will often see your kids expressing how they feel and think about the world through their art. The clothes they wear or the songs they sing give them a way to express the feelings and ideas that they don’t have the words to elaborate. Art helps children cope with the natural stresses of growing up.
As a parent, it’s important to focus more on the process than the finished result. Ask yourself: What’s the goal? If your objective is a world-class painting, download a picture on the internet. If the goal is to allow your child to explore her imagination, let her draw outside the lines and make a beautiful mess.
1.HEALTHY KIDS SNACKS Choosing Healthy Snacks for Kids
2.LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Celebrating Birthdays
4.Our Most Popular Teacher Articles on WeChat in February
5.Chores for Children of All Ages
6DEALING WITH AIR POLLUTION Minimizing Risk for Our Children
International Sunshine Home is Xiamen’s premier bilingual Montessori school. Our qualified teachers and small class sizes help your child grow up in a safe and happy environment. We welcome you to visit us in person to find out more. Simply reply to our WeChat and send us your name and your child’s name along with your phone number.
International Sunshine Home Arts & Sciences