728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Development › Artsy Baby

Artsy Baby

A Diverse Learning Experience for Children

By Kelly Burgess

Pages:  1  2  3  

Betsy Orchard feels having these interactions in an institution where the teachers are specifically trained in arts education enhances the experience. "Even in the little kid classes, you feel that the teachers know what they are doing and know how to cultivate a rich arts experience for your child," she says.

Kate DeToye, director of programs for COCA, says the social experience of a class can be as valuable as the class activities. "The social aspect is important for both the child and the parent or caregiver," she says. "The child begins to understand the dynamic of a group setting and the adult learns ways to help their very young child experience the world."

10 Top Art Tips
To help enhance your child's creativity, Striker offers these 10 tips for encouraging artistic expression:
  1. Obliterate your own expectations of how an art project should be completed, and let the child's imagination decide how the art materials will be used.
  2. Never draw, paint or write on a child's artwork.
  3. Never point out accidental similarities to realistic objects.
  4. Never show a child "how" to draw or entertain a child by making realistic pictures.
  5. Don't ask "What is it?" or "What are you making?" What it is is not as important as how it is being made.
  6. Try not to give a child coloring books, dot to dot, magic paint with water, molds, drawing machines, drawing computers or similar toys.
  7. Never encourage children to participate in art contests or other forms of competition that pit child against child.
  8. Encourage a child to come up with many different solutions to problems, rather than only one correct answer.
  9. Don't scold for drawing on unacceptable surfaces. Offer paper and say, "Oh good, I see you feel like drawing."
  10. Do not rush a child to the next level of development.
    11. Pages:  1  2  3  

    Want to see more?

Comments

There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to add a comment.

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.