Welcome to the June Teach/Learn Blogging Carnival, ‘Kids and Learning.’
The Teach/Learn Blogging Carnival hosted by Science@home is for anyone, because we are all teachers and learners all the time. This month our theme is “Art” which doesn’t just mean doing craft – it includes music, performance art and appreciation as well! Our bloggers have come up with many different thought-provoking takes on this theme. Please read through to the end to find links to the other participating blogs.
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Art is not a mass produced piece of work. It is not detailing to children how to draw, paint or mould.
Art is allowing a child to express themselves in a range of different ways. Through clay, painting, drawing, writing and the list goes on.
Malaguzzi detailed the hundred languages of the child and this is something that we should be recognising when creating and implementing a stimulating program.
I am a firm believer of having an area where play can be revisited. This can be something as simple as having an area where artworks can be placed and finished at a later time.
There are many ways that you can extend and pursue a child’s creativity, and setting up the learning environment is one of the most crucial elements in relation to this.
Having an area where there is a variety of materials that can be used, each day. Not just having a day for painting, a day for clay, having a variety will enable each child to want to explore an aspect of art and by having them available each day will show the children that you encourage their creativity.
As stated previously, having areas where unfinished artworks can be left until the following day or later in the afternoon to be finished. I am sure that most artists do not finish work in a day, why should we expect children to?
Setting the background mood can include:
:: Having other artworks on display {both the children’s and other artists} to show that art is valued
:: Playing different types of music
:: Having space for a number children to be able to create and socialise
:: Having adequate resources available, make sure there is enough materials for each child to do a number of different artworks
:: Providing space where you are able to sit and discuss with the children their work {you can also make your own too!}
:: Using images or real-life objects for inspiration, including natural objects to be included in artwork
:: Having a flexible routine which allows for the development of creativity
These are just some ways to instil a love of art and creativity into children. Most importantly, take an interest in their work. Not only will it show that you appreciate the time and effort they put into their artwork, but it will show that you take art seriously, are proud of their efforts and will open up a number of discussion topics.
There is no right or wrong way to create art!
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Visit Science@home to find out more about the Teach/Learn Blogging Carnival. 
Please take the time to visit the other participants and check out their posts on “Art.”
- CatWay at Adventures With Kids is getting the most out of a trip to the art gallery with ideas of how to prepare children and interest them while they are there.
- Mamapoekie from Authentic Parenting argues for the importance of art and why we should be encouraging it as our children get older.
- Miss Carly from Early Childhood Resources talks about how to create an environment that encourages young children to explore art.
- Sharon at Hear Mum Roar has done a fantastic video post by getting her children to do an activity two different ways and letting you see the very different results.
- Amanda at HomeAge has been admiring art with her daughter since she was a baby, taking her to several art exhibitions and reading books.
- Kate from Picklebums talks about why art is important for little people and has a huge list of activities you can try.
- The Planning Queen from Planning With Kids has tips for visiting the art gallery with kids, including links to different galleries and some ideas for activities afterwards.
- Colin Wee at Super Parents is thinking about his son’s musicality as he learns to play the violin.
- Deb from Science@home has her children investigating materials while making sculptures and bravely let the 2 year old use a hot glue gun.
- Leechbabe from Stuff with Thing started out looking at patterns in nature, but the activity changed because she followed her children’s lead.
- Monique at Your Cheeky Monkey has used an indoor activity, giving her children magazines to cut out and create collages.
- Lisa at SMMART Ideas has a sidewalk chalk festival in her own driveway!
Thanks for visiting, we hope you enjoy some of the posts in our carnival.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Hmmm that point about having a space for a child to come back and continue working on their art is really important. So often I will be tidying up the kitchen table for dinner and the girls get upset because they are not finished yet.
Our kitchen table seems to be almost never used for meals, and is always covered in art works, art or craft tools and works in progress.
When we do sit down for a meal we all take turns to choose what music to listen to. Princess likes to know what “language” (nationality)dinner is and match the music to the meal, not always easy, but we try.
I do love that my daughter can identify jazz music, knows the sound of a violin, and told me to turn off Lady Gaga after we looked for her on youtube after watching Glee last week! LOL
I agree about the special space for art. But I’m a hypocrite, because we’ve moved house and ours isn’t set up yet. But we have a playroom we will be doing up soon.
I too love the idea of “coming back”to your work. I like that you mentioned staying flexible too. You never know how engaged they might be!
I think you’re right about taking time to finish artworks and the importance of letting children come back to them later. Having lots of materials available is important too, although it can encourage creativity to have to do without the exact thing you want and needing to find a substitute.
I agree how important it is to take an interest in your kids artwork! I never thought to include other things to encourage creativity, like music, but certainly will next time we set up for artwork :-)
Great list of ideas!
My kids are all especially pleased when I frame up a piece of their art work to hang on our wall, it always encourages ore creating!
Great tips here Carly! Having the space to create is so important and for kids to know that art can sometimes be messy and that is ok too!
That’s a good post! We’ve got a nice low and large table set up for the children with materials nicely situated close by. I’ve been a little lax with helping them with projects they can do, but my little daughter is very happy to be inventive over a range of different mediums. It’s cool to see this ‘there are no rules’ to art in practice. :-) Cheers.
Thanks, I especially like the point about sitting down and talking about the art. I find she’s trying to tell me in the middle of cooking, or I’m asking her while she’s racing off to play. And I need a push for art on the walls, we’ve just found we’re staying here for a few years so I really need to look at putting up some of the pictures that are leaning in the study!
I’ve gotten unused paper billboards from the outdoor media company and thumb-tacked them on the fence outside. Paper (not vinyl) billboards come in sections about 4′ x 5′. It gives a child a whole new scale of an art media for painting, markers, etc. It freshens the art experience for them in an out-of the-box way and keeps them interested a little longer.
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