The child sent this postcard to her grandparents. It has anote on theother side (dictated to her mother who wrote it for her, and may havepromptedher a bit). It reads, "I hope you're doing well. I would like to go toyour house some week. Thank you for the Barbie and clothes." Theartwork gives the child a means to express her feelings and giveemphasisto her wishes. She is learning the values of her family and herculture.Furthermore, the child is learning the importance of her own status andhow she has some control over her own life.
Postscript:
The child who painted the tempera painting at the top of this page has grown up to earn a Harvard Ph.D. and has become apublished and award winning research scientist who has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Theirchildrenalso loved to paint, model clay, and draw. While none of this proves the value ofpainting, drawing, and clay modelingas a developmental activity for young children, these kind ofart activities combined with other favorable nurturing experiences certainly seem to be verybeneficial. When children draw, paint, do clay modeling, and other original artwork; they are thinking about all kinds of options. They are learning to make choices, They are imagining how others will respond to their work (nurturing empathy).
It can be very rewardingand motivating for toddlers to work with art materials.It provides the young brain many appropriate and engaging challenges dealing with more abstract mathematical andverbal constructs. It is extremely helpful for thechildto get positive reinforcement for self initiated learning activities.Self-designedart projects provide positive self-image and the chance for affirmative feedbackthat results in continued self-challenging problem-making and problemsolving. Parents who express an interest by asking children to tell them about their artwork are helping their children learn to think, to imagine, and to make their own discoveries. On the other hand, parents and teachers who prescribe too much , give too many directions, show children how to do too many things may find that the child becomes too dependent on others and is less self-sufficient.
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also see: Essayon Art Classroom Rituals by Marvin Bartel
More Art Education Essays and Art Lesson by Marvin Bartel
Marvin Bartel Home Top of page
Goshen College Art Department
More about preschool creativity
A preschooler draws an orchid
Scribbling
The beginnings of drawings
Clay work for toddlers
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