Guiding Art
Deborah Neill
The student will be able to…
• Explain how art experiences promote physical,
social, emotional, and cognitive growth.
• Describe techniques for guiding art
experiences
• List the stages of art skill development
• Compile a list of art supplies needed for a
well-stocked classroom
• Plan a variety of art activities suitable for
young children.
Art is Important
Art promotes physical, social, emotional,
and cognitive growth in children.
Techniques for guiding Art Experiences
Care Giver Dos for Art
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Care giver must be creative in approach
to art.
It is ok to help children during art
sessions. Only help in tasks children
need help in.
Care givers foster independence and
encourage them to use the supplies.
Let children decide when their work is
finished.
Model art appreciation by offering
feedback to the children about heir
work.
In preschool children’s artwork, color
does not play an important part. There
is no relationship between the colors
chosen and objects in the artwork.
Comments to use for Children’s
Art
• “You’re using a purple
crayon.”
• “Your work has interesting
lines.”
• “What a nice yellow star
you’re making.”
• “You must really like green.”
• “That type of brush stroke
feels smooth, doesn’t it?”
Stages of Art Skill Development
Scribbles
• The first stage in art skills
most often occurs between
15 months and 3 years of
age.
• Make children in this stage
aware of their movements
as they move the crayon
across the paper.
Children’s motor control and hand-eye
coordination are not well developed yet.
Basic Forms
1.
The second stage in art skill
development of children is basic
forms. This happens somewhere
between the ages of three and
four years old.
2.
At this stage children learn basic
forms such as rectangles and
circles.
3.
Children also begin to develop
and enjoy their ability to create
forms.
4.
They begin to see the connection
between their movements and
the marks they make. Children
now connect those motions to
their artwork. They may even
begin to name their drawings at
this stage.
First Drawings
1. The third stage of art
development occurs
during the fourth and fifth
years.
2. Children produce their
first real drawings.
3. They begin to combine
shapes to represent
forms, and combine
shapes to represent
objects or people.
4. Color is unrealistic.
Art Supplies and Tools
Tempera Paint
• Tempera paint is used in
many child care centers.
• It has a slight odor and
tastes chalky.
• Tempera can be purchased
in both liquid and powered
form.
Tempera Paint and Brushes
Art Supplies
• Easels need to be
sturdy, adjustable and
be provided as a place
to paint.
Art Supplies
Crayons, Chalk, and Felt-Tip
Markers
Paper and Painting surfaces
Art Supplies
Paste: Making paste on your own
can be a source of budget savings
Glue
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1 cup cold water
1 cup flour
2 1/2 cups boiling water
1 teaspoon powdered alum
¾ teaspoon oil of wintergreen
(Optional)
Mix the cold water with the flour, stirring
until smooth. Continue stirring while
adding boiling water. Cook mixture on
low heat in a double boiler until
smooth. At this time, the mixture
should look slightly bluish-gray and
shiny. Remove from heat and add oil of
wintergreen for an interesting smell.
Store in a cool place.
Art Supplies
Cleanup Tools
• Keep cleanup tools in the
art area so they are
available when spills occur.
• Keep supplies within
children’s reach.
• Cut mop handles down so
they are child sized.
Space and Storage
• Well-planned space is
needed to encourage
children to use art areas.
• Containers are needed to
store paint, paste, scissors,
and collage materials.
• Paste containers may be
small enough for one child
or large enough for a group
to use.
Painting Activities
•Easel Painting should be daily activity
in all early childhood programs.
Permit only one child to use each
easel. Encourage children to wear
smocks. Teach young children how to
use the paintbrush.
•Finger Painting is a sensory
experience. It promotes expression
and release of feelings. Finger
painting requires more supervision
than most other painting activities.
•String Painting needs prior
preparation work. Cut pieces of heavy
yarn or string. Place a tray of colored
tempera paint and paper on the table.
Show children how to slide yarn
through the paint and then across the
paper.
•Mono Painting starts with a regular
finger painting. Another paper is
placed across the painted paper and
patted together, then pulled apart.
Molding
•Play dough and clay are materials
that can be molded and formed.
•Children’s play with molding
materials reflects their level of
development.
•Clay when wet appears grayish in
color. Most clay will stain clothing.
Clay can be used on a vinyl table cloth
or tile to save on cleanup time.
•Play dough is soft and pliable, and it
has a softer texture than clay. It offers
little resistance to pressure and
responds easily when touched. You
can add a variety of materials to
change the feel of play dough. Some
of the materials you might add are
rice, cornmeal, pebbles, sand, and
coffee grounds.
Art
Cutting: children need time, supplies
and space each day for cutting.
Collage means a selection of materials
mounted on a flat surface. Collages are two
dimensional arrangements of many
materials.
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Suggestion of Objects for
Collages
Aluminum foil
Baking cups
Greeting cards
Lace
Shoelaces
Small tiles
Tree bark
Resources
• Working with Young Children; Judy Herr The
Goodheart-Willcox Company, Inc. 2004
• www.google.com images: www.nacac.gov.au ,
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