HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE IMPORTANT PRACTICAL REASONS WHY CHILDREN THRIVE ON ART!
4 yr old learning the skill of "drilling" in the art of woodworking
All photos taken by Carolyn at Magical Movement Company
CLOSE ADULT SUPERVISION AT ALL TIMES WITH THIS ACTIVITY
All photos taken by Carolyn at Magical Movement Company
CLOSE ADULT SUPERVISION AT ALL TIMES WITH THIS ACTIVITY
"A part of the human heritage, possessed by each person, lies in the creativity which is a life, a power and an energy within the unconscious mind."
This is a lovely quote from the Art rationale paper of one of my recent AMS Student Interns, Wendy Wang, from the Montessori Institute of Advanced Studies.
Wendy goes on to write that the "creative energy that remains dormant or suppressed in the mind is valueless. It must be expressed through the body in a certain way, as art, to enhance peoples' self-identity."
This is a lovely quote from the Art rationale paper of one of my recent AMS Student Interns, Wendy Wang, from the Montessori Institute of Advanced Studies.
Wendy goes on to write that the "creative energy that remains dormant or suppressed in the mind is valueless. It must be expressed through the body in a certain way, as art, to enhance peoples' self-identity."
As Preschool teachers, we see young children flock to the Art Area of the classroom and it makes one start to wonder about the inherent reasons for this "flocking." I've found over the years, that little children often create art for practical reasons. (as have human societies since the dawn of civilization!)
Below you will see one 4 yr old girl's reason for fulfilling a practical need (to cool down during the hot summer afternoon) by creating something beautiful as well as practical!
The important practical skills that children develop in the art area of the Preschool classroom, can easily go beyond the basics of learning how to use scissors, grasp a pencil, and squeeze a glue bottle!
There's the beginning of developing the skills required in woodworking:
ADULT SUPERVISION RECOMMENDED AT ALL TIMES
Young children in a Montessori classroom often begin to learn the skills involved in sewing & fiber arts:
ADULT SUPERVISION RECOMMENDED AT ALL TIMES
The practical importance of communication through written language appears often in the art of young children:
You can read more about how children make art through "glitter writing" at this post:
Then, there's the classic practical reason for making art: creating a fanciful image of a friend through portrait painting, like a real artist does!
Many of us love children's art and how they express themselves through their art. What is amazing is the timeless wisdom of the young child in following the inherent development in humankind that brings the practical to a new, and higher, and more beautiful level!
"My mother said to me, 'If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the pope.' Instead I was a painter and became Picasso." (Pablo Picasso)I am delighted that you are reading this post and I hope it was enjoyable and gave you a little reminder of the practical importance of art for little children (and adults, too!)
I would love hearing your ideas...just leave a comment in the section at the end of this post.
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