Art is a natural way for kids to engage in unstructured play. Exploration and experimentation are made possible by the flexibility to manipulate various materials in an organic and unstructured manner. These artistic pursuits and self-directed discoveries are not only entertaining, but also informative. Art helps young people to practice a variety of abilities that are essential not only in everyday life, but also in the classroom.
WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR BRAINS WHEN WE ARE INVOLVED IN ART?
Watch this video to get a brief about what happens when a learner is involved in art.
How to promote your child practicing art?
| Imitate your child. Instead of drawing your own picture, sit down with your child and imitate their actions. Make big scribbles, small lines or practice drawing circles. | Provide choices. Gather a wide range of materials for your child to use like paint, colored pencils, chalk, play dough, markers, crayons, oil pastels, scissors and stamps. | Support, don’t lead. Let the kids decide what materials they want to use and how and when to use them. Maybe they want to peel the paper off a crayon and use it lengthwise on the paper, instead of writing with the tip. |
| Focus on the process, not the product. Encouraging your child in the action of unstructured art helps them work with intrinsic motivation. It teaches them to express themselves freely, without worrying about what others think. | Keep it open-ended. Instead of sitting down with a specific plan or outcome in mind, let your child explore, experiment and use their imaginations. | Let it go. As long as a child is safe, let them explore. They may spend the majority of the time sharpening colored pencils instead of actually drawing with them. Children learn through playing, exploring and trial and error. |
