Below you’ll find a general arts literacy guide for Montessori Early Childhood ages following the International Standards for the Arts Education & Sensory Visual Arts method that aligns with a child’s growth – Nature of Art®.
Children of all ages can be taught visual arts and guided through the artistic process.
Each developmental phase requires different teaching styles and approaches.
Resources
If you would like to understand more about which types of art projects children can work on, register for this free video course Phases of Arts Development discussing Early Childhood, 3 – 6, and 6 – 13 years age.
You can learn about Art Literacy Standards and the benefits of visual arts read Defining Visual Arts Paperback (paperback book).Get information on how to bring art lessons into the Montessori classroom by reading Introducing Visual Arts into the Montessori Classroom (paperback book).
Get information on how to bring art lessons into the Montessori classrom by reading Introducing Visual Arts into the Montessori Classroom (paperback book).
Early Childhood, Toddler Art Teaching : 18 months to 3 years
For young children art making will be an exploratory and discovery based experience. Early childhood children do not understand the placement of visual arts, and are in a very curious state about mediums. Children should explore art mediums without any expected outcome.
So the best instruction method to introducing art lessons will be process based art, Process based art is about the experience and the process, and not focused on the child’s final piece of artwork, or whether it resembles art adults recognize.
And finally the important thing you want to focus on is giving children task for fine-motor skill development. Art creating helps develop muscles both small and large, which improves controlled movements. Be sure to provide plenty of opportunities to practice these skills.
Art Activities & Mediums For Early Childhood
Doodling – crayons, color pencils, tempera sticks
Painting – watercolor paints, tempera paints, finger paints, homemade veggie paints
Color Theory Play – water color paints
Clay Modeling – earth clay, homemade play dough
Simple Crafts – cutting paper and weaving string. I recommend waiting to do crafts with small parts till after age of 3 years.
Learn more by registering for this free mini digital course, Phases of Art Development Video.
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