Home » ExchangeEveryDay » Guidelines for the Art Center



ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues


<< Previous Issue | View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> ExchangeEveryDay
Guidelines for the Art Center
May 3, 2005


"Only in your imagination can you revise." - Fay Wray


Guidelines for the Art Center

The Spring 2005 issue of the Texas Child Care Quarterly (www.childcarequarterly.com) observed, "the best art activities support investigation and experimentation and avoid focus on the product or end result." These were some of the many guidelines suggested to achieve this goal:

* Position the art center in good light and, if possible, near a water source.

* Focus on open-ended activities -- those that allow children to be involved in the process of creativity. Avoid closed activities -- those that have only one correct method or product.

* Encourage invention and independence. Avoid making models for children to follow.

* Buy left- and right-handed scissors that are blunt-ended, comfortable, sharp, and smooth in operation.

* Offer a variety of painting tools. In addition to standard brushes, provide sponges, feathers, combs, cotton swabs, toothbrushes, medicine droppers, spray bottles, and roll-top bottles.

* Avoid writing on children's artwork. Encourage children to sign their own art. If a chlid wants to dictate infomation about the art, write on a separate piece of paper that can be attached to the back of the art.

* Expect children to share cleanup tasks and to be responsible for their own materials. Show children how to control paint drips, wash brushes, cover dough and clay containers, hang up smocks, and wipe up spills.



For more ideas on exploring all aspects of art and young children, check out the Beginings Workshops on "Art Experiences," "Meeting Children's Needs," and "Space". This week all Beginnings Workshops are on sale at a 28% discount at http://mail.ccie.com/go/eed/0613

ExchangeEveryDay

Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

What is ExchangeEveryDay?

ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.





Post a Comment

Have an account? to submit your comment.


required

Your e-mail address will not be visible to other website visitors.
required
required
required

Check the box below, to help verify that you are not a bot. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this form.



Disclaimer: Exchange reserves the right to remove any comments at its discretion or reprint posted comments in other Exchange materials.