It’s back-to-school season, and I’m sure you all are in the middle of shopping for new materials for your classroom. While you’re out finishing up your shopping, make sure you’re picking up the right and best Montessori art materials for early childhood. There are a ton of products and wonderful things to work with, I’d encourage you to explore and purchase anything that inspires you.
Choosing the Most Appropriate Art Materials for Early Childhood
There are so many awesome tools and supplies, but not all of them will be appropriate for an early childhood classroom.
The reason why some art supplies and materials are not suitable for this age group is because early childhood students are in what I identify as the Young Exploratory Phase™. This means they make and create by exploratory and discovery play. Children in these beginning years do not understand the placement of visual arts, and are very curious about different mediums; they’re still working through gross-to-fine motor abilities and are often still putting objects in their mouths. So it’s important to choose the right safe mediums and materials as an introduction to visual arts as they experiment and learn from the results they create.
I’ve met thousands of teachers all over the world who want to start teaching art in their classroom, but they don’t know where to start or what materials they need. It’s taken me years to amass my own art material collection, so I can understand why trying to purchase the right art material for a classroom all at once can be overwhelming—especially if you have no idea where to start.
When you’re teaching art to early childhood Montessori students, you can get by with just a few basic materials. It’s just important to be smart and strategic in purchasing those materials. I’d encourage you to start buying a few items from the list below to get you started, then adding to it as the year goes on and you start to see your students grow in excitement and interest!
Where to Start: Which Montessori Art Materials for Early Childhood to Purchase First
I typically teach visual art within five domains. If you’re really on a budget when you’re shopping for back-to-school art materials, start with purchasing materials for just one domain, then build from there. For instance, you can create dozens of art lessons using just a few essential materials from the painting domain. (If you’re looking for other money-saving tips, read this blog.)
One Step Further (Download My Montessori Art Materials for Early Childhood List!)
Here’s the thing with early childhood art: it needs to be taught specifically for early childhood students using art materials that are designed or appropriate for them. Here’s a list I’ve curated based on my years of experience teaching art to early childhood, 3 to 6 year-old, students. Every art material listed here is suitable for their age group and will make introducing art concepts and lessons to them much easier, account for control of error, and result in less (to zero) mess in your classroom!
You can download 25 Montessori Art Materials to Have in Your Early Childhood Classroom by clicking here.
A Short Cut Just for You – Buy Guide Book
Having the right art material for your early childhood classroom is just the first step. If you want more information on how to use each material, how to set up an art shelf with the materials, and how to teach lessons that actually help early childhood students learn art (YES, they can learn art at that early of an age!) then I have some good news for you!
I’m currently selling my brand new, Early Childhood Art Guide . It includes everything you need to know to successfully bring art lessons into your early childhood classroom—without the stress. I go into more detail about art materials (such as how to use them and where to find them), give you step-by-step art presentations, and a ton of other valuable information that makes teaching art and setting up your shelf so much easier. And, right now, you can order yours today!, so don’t miss out!
Early Childhood Art Guide
Visual Arts Teaching Guide
for 13 Months – 6 Years Old
This book includes:
✅ My proprietary art teaching method
✅ The proper and complete list of art materials
✅ A guide for staging and setting up a successful art environment
✅ Tips and art lesson ideas for early childhood
✅ A convenient three-ring binder presentation
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