Skip to main content

Art and craft for toddlers

 


Art and craft for toddlers

Nowadays there is a lot of positive talks about process art and some negative ones about craft.  I think they are learning opportunities for toddlers in both.  I was told that teacher shouldn't demonstrate how to do a project because it kills the creativity of  children and make them feel bad about their skills.  I don't think it's true with the toddlers.  Most of them are mostly interested or not in the process anyway.   

I like to show them the finish product and if they are not interested it's ok.  For example when we did our hand print polar bear, i show them mine first.  The older ones were interested and the younger not at all.  We did an icy lanscape first.  I gave them a blue construction paper and 3 light blue ones, with glue and paint brush.  When they were done I gave them 1 or 2 snowflake stickers. 


They were all different and they were all perfect for the polar bear back ground.


The polar bear itself was more a craft but the overall project is an artistic experience.  At that age the appreciation of art is more the goal than the finished product.   So if one of your  child doesn't want to touch the materials and you do it for him/her, it is still an artistic experience to stimulate the process of creating something.

Here's how I specifically organized the hand print polar bear activity which develops, of course the appreciation of art but also fine motor skills and cognition.

 https://coachingtoddlers.blogspot.com/2021/01/hand-print-polar-bear.html
By the way I don't display my projects.  I don't want they compare theirs to mine.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ice fishing, activity for toddlers

ICE FISHING Cognitive Activity for toddlers I wrapped a box with white paper,  then cut out a hole on one side.  I put magnet fishes in it and gave my "kids" the magnet fishing poles that goes with them.  If you don't have that you can make your own poles with paper towel tubes with a string and a letter magnet and paper fishes with a paper clip.   This activity is good for initiative, engagement in learning and cognitive flexibility.  

Sensory table with white stuff in it

  SENSORY TABLE WITH WHITE STUFF IN IT  Measurement (math) activity (Cognitive) for toddlers  If you don't have a sensory table you can use trays or any shallow containers.  We put rice, cornstarch and salt.  We used it for measurement activity and during centers time for Initiative.  It always a popular one in my classroom.

Paper tube rings and cotton swabs sbowflakes

  PAPER TUBE RINGS AND COTTON SWABS SNOWFLAKES Fine motor skills activity for toddlers Supplies : - paper tubes - scissors - hole punch - cotton swabs Prep : Cut paper towel or toilet paper tubes in 2 inches rings.  Punch 6 holes, try to make the one across at the same distance from the edge then change the height location for the other sets.  Meaning one set of two close to the upper edge, another one close to the lower edge and the last one in the middle.  Give your student a ring and three cotton swabs then provide more as they finish them.  Have fun like we did!