Presentation on theme: "Safely Supporting the Development of the Visual Arts in Infants and Toddlers Shannon D. Lockhart email@example.com."— Presentation transcript:
1Safely Supporting the Development of the Visual Arts in Infants and Toddlers Shannon D. Lockhart
2ObjectivesDiscuss the importance of art experiences for infants and toddlersIdentify the stages in the development of the visual arts in infants and toddlersSafely plan an environment that supports the visual artsIdentify ways to begin supporting the appreciation of art in infants and toddlers
3Experiencing the Visual Arts as ITs Listen to instructions for the first art activityWhat are your reactions to this experience?What about active learning? (Materials, Manipulation, Choice, Language and Adult Support)
4Experiencing the Visual Arts as ITs -- Part 2 Listen to instructions for second activityWhat are your reactions to this experience?What about active learning? (Materials, Manipulation, Choice, Language and Adult Support)
5Why is art experiences important for infants and toddlers? In your table groups, discuss why you think art experiences are worthwhile for infant and toddlers.Refer to the key developmental indicators during this discussion.
6Reasons:The arts are central to children’s cognitive, social, emotional, language, and motor development.Art is intrinsically rewardingThe arts motivate and engage children in learning, stimulate memory, facilitate understanding, enhance, symbolic communication, promote relationships and provide an avenue for building competenceImportant for its own sakeTurns us inward to define personal ideals of beauty, meaning and valueUses all of our senses while engaging our minds and bodies
7Cont’ Develops children’s thinking and ability to express thought Develops language and communication skillsStrengthens children’s mental imagesChildren represent their memories, ideas, predictions, hypotheses, observations and feelingsArises naturally from children’s playSupports early brain developmentPrecursor to the development of problem solving skills
8Identifying Developmental Areas of Art Let’s take a look at the stages of development of the visual arts and the developmental progressions in making art.Turn in your training booklet.Discuss stages with your group.Look at these children and identify the stage.
14Let’s watch ITs in action Watch these infants and toddlers involved in a painting activity.Keep in mind the stages.Discuss as a whole group.
15Practice Identifying the Stages Now look at the pictures on your table and with your group decide their developmental stage and/or their progression in making art.What are your reactions?Easy? Hard?
16Come up with a plan With a partner, choose 1 picture. Come up with a plan to support this child based on the stage of development.Could be materials, group time, outside time, meals, adult support strategies.
17Pictures of Art Materials With your group, take a look at the pictures of art materials on your tables.What materials do you currently have for infants and toddlers?What do you think about these materials with infants and toddlers?How would you provide a variety of materials?What about safety?How would you store art materials?
18Supporting the Artist in Each Child Set up an attractive art area (quantities of inexpensive materials)Provide enough time for art experiencesCreate a playful atmosphere for children’s artEncourage children’s discoveries about lines, shapes, and colorsPlan ways to build on their current understanding.
19Cont’ Watch what children do and converse with them about their work: (Going back to interaction strategies)–Be silent; Just be there!Repeat what the child saysRestate what the child saysMake reflective comments about the visual-graphic elements or the processUse questions sparingly. Use questions that encourage children to share more about their work
20Cont’ Display children’s art At eye level whenever possibleHave lots of undecorated classroom space for children’s workRemember that children’s work does not need to be improved upon!Visit visually interesting places with childrenIf you provide a creative atmosphere and positive adult support children with create and have the self-confidence to create.
21How should we support art development? In Art Activities:Build slowly, (e.g., one primary color – another primary color – white & black).During choice time, at the easel or paint that is set out, try only primary colors plus black and white with empty cups to mix colors; children can create more subtle shades and tones if they mix their own colors.
22Strategies for Appreciating Art with Young Children Learning EnvironmentUse the illustrations in children’s storybooks as examples of artBring reproductions and illustrations of fine art into the classroomObserve art as it occurs in natureDaily RoutineIncorporate other sensory experiences to enhance children’s understanding of visual artUse art to establish a connection between home & schoolConnect children to art and the creative process in their communities
23Cont’ Adult-child Interactions Begin with children’s own experiences and interestsMake sure children feel safe and secure expressing themselves about artDevelop a language to talk about artHelp children develop a sense of aesthetic appreciation
24Adult Support Interaction Strategies Research studies show that the way adults interact with children in a variety of caregiving, play and teaching situations play a very important role in children’s learning and development.In classrooms where adults are responsive-guiding and supporting children’s activities rather than directing or controlling them– children take initiative more often and are more likely to be actively engaged and persistent in their work.