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Rethinking Art for Children | Day 8 – 30DaysTYP

April 8, 2014 By Racheous

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Following along from updating our creative space, today we’re reflecting on and discussing art materials. I’ve spoken about art materials for children before.

Before we start, have you watched Sir Ken Robinson’s TED Talk on Creativity? If you have, but it’s been a while, please re-watch it. If not, do yourself a favour and watch it. Just watch it.

OK, are you back? Inspiring right? The most significant part for me is the emphasis on creativity for the success of our child’s unpredictable future. Of course, there are many different types of creativity (music, dance, drama, etc), but I think that early experiences with art paves the way for creativity.

sir ken robinson

Now, I have some important questions for you:

  • What emphasis do you place on creativity within your home?
  • What quality are the art materials that you give your child/ren?
  • How do you present them? Are they accessible?
  • If possible, do you have a dedicated space to create?
  • Do the materials and the creative environment make you want to create?
  • How often do you present creative experiences?
  • How do you present the experiences?
  • Do you encourage new and different ways of using the art materials you have regularly?

Art is a daily occurrence in our home. However, as Cameron is getting older, I am watching him grow far beyond the process. Lucy, of course, is in the thick of process art and providing unique and meaningful opportunities to create is fairly simple at this stage.

However, Cameron – at 4 years old, has a need for direction and meaningful creative opportunities that pertain to his interests.

loris malaguzzi creativity

Obviously, creativity holds importance in our home. To me, it’s important to give my children quality art materials as often as I’m able. Similarly, given my Montessori influence, I am mindful of how accessible they are. This was the main reason and driving force behind our new creative space.

 

It is important to also present art experiences in an inviting and engaging way by offering provoking items that relate to what your child is interested in. Some ideas for provoking items include:

  • other related artworks by others (paintings, sculptures, drawings, mixed media works for example)
  • story or picture books related to their interests
  • photos of your child playing with something related to their interest
  • a documentary related to their interest, if available
  • a related app on digital media
  • informative books related to their interests
  • photographs
  • play scene (play mat, backdrop, etc) related to their interest
  • previous works by your child that are related


Creativity becomes more visible when adults try to be more attentive to the cognitive processes of children than to the results they achieve in various fields of doing and understanding. – Loris Malaguzzi

Task

  • Set up a simple art experience, including something provoking relating to your child’s interests.
  • Observe and reflect on their art experience – How do they engage with the materials? What do they say? Can they easily access the materials they needed? What questions does it provoke? How engaged are they? What can you do to help guide them?
  • Record and reflect on your findings.
  • Consider how you can extend on their exploration and on the work that they create.

Share your spaces on Instagram with the hashtag #30daystyp (Truly loving your photos – so much inspiration! Truly humbling and beautiful!) and/or on my Facebook page!

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Here is the rest of the 30 Days to Transform Your Play series.

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You may also like:

Paint | Day 15 – 30DaysTYP Identifying an Interest | Day 4 – 30 Days TYP Using Books to Enhance Materials | Day 18 – 30DaysTYP Real Tools | Day 16 – 30DaysTYP

8 Comments Filed Under: Transform Your Play

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Comments

  1. Bek @ Just For Daisy says

    April 8, 2014 at 7:43 pm

    We’re a few days behind after preschool Monday and a big day out today! But looking forward to some creative fun tomrorow :) Thanks for another great post!

    Reply
    • Racheous says

      April 11, 2014 at 7:05 am

      Too awesome! Don’t worry about being behind and enjoy the ride :P

      Reply
  2. Nina says

    April 9, 2014 at 4:52 am

    I am so glad I am taking part in this series. You are providing such an amazing guidance and thought provoking questions that are helping me to reflect on my role in children’s play. And I can’t wait to hear the experiences of other mums.

    Art is a tricky one in our household and I totally sympathise with Ashley. My 4 year old will rarely pick up a pencil or ask to do painting, despite the fact that we have all arts and crafts materials clearly displayed and easily accessible. He was never into art, he also seems to be a perfectionist and freaks out if things go wrong.

    He is encouraged to draw / write a journal each evening and only recently his drawings started to resemble whatever he is trying to express (a drawing of a bumblebee, a drawing of himself falling over branches).

    Some of my art invitations seem to work, but most of them result in ‘Mummy, I don’t want to do it!’ (http://feelthesummerstorm.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/i-dont-want-to-paint-you-do-it-mummy.html)

    So looking forward to improve my approach :)

    Reply
    • Racheous says

      April 11, 2014 at 7:03 am

      Love sharing the journey with you! My biggest suggestion is to let him see you working creatively and encourage him to find a medium that he enjoys creating with (i.e. perhaps he would be more interested in painting if there is printing involved, or maybe he finds construction/sculpture more appealing) and continue doing what you’re doing :)

      Reply
  3. Betsy @ BPHotoArt says

    April 13, 2014 at 10:05 pm

    Great discussion on this. I am all for encouraging creativity, and have found that it not only varies from kid to kid….but day to day. Some days, creativity is defined differently than others. :)

    Reply
  4. Ang Johnson says

    April 15, 2014 at 3:20 am

    Love the idea of using a mobile art supplies unit! That would be so practical for our situation!

    Reply
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    May 4, 2014 at 1:54 am

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