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Creative art is developmentally appropriate for early childhood programs. LPA utilizes art programs on a daily basis to help children to develop physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally. During all art projects, children are given many materials from which to create their own masterpiece. Teacher-made models of finished artwork are not allowed, and children are encouraged to create and explore art from their own perspective. The focus of art projects and activities is on the PROCESS or PROCESSES of the activity, NOT on the PRODUCT of the activity.

Through art, children are allowed to express themselves creatively, gain confidence in their efforts and achievements, and feel pride in themselves and in their work. While a finished product may not appear to an adult as anything in particular, it is none the less the product of a young child’s hard work, imagination, and creativity, and therefore should be considered a masterpiece in and of itself.

When children are allowed to use art materials such as crayons, markers, paintbrushes, and finger paint, their fine motor skills are developed. Hand-eye coordination, visual discrimination, perceptual awareness, and spatial awareness are developed. Children learn to be creative, and they learn to express themselves. Art appreciation develops, as each child is encouraged to participate in creative art activities.

Why Art is Important

1. Painting:When children paint they are using their fine motor skills to hold the paintbrush. They learn direction because they are painting either up and down, side-to-side, or round and round. Painting also allows children to experiment with color and control. Children experience the freedom of expression when painting and are able to make their own masterpiece with the stroke of a paint brush!
2. Scribbling:When children scribble this is a pre-writing skill. They learn how to properly hold a pencil or crayon. Scribbling with a crayon involves fine motor skills such as grasping, holding an object and strengthening the muscles in the hand. Children are able to use their imagination when creating a piece of scribble art. What may be viewed as a scribble or messy piece of art progresses to meaningful marks, then to recognizable shapes, then to pictorial representations.
3. Finger Painting:Finger painting is a much loved art process in all age groups. When children have the opportunity to touch, squeeze, smear, and splatter paint with their hands only smiles are created. This type of art allows children to have free expression, and experience the sense of touch with the paint.
4. 3D Art:Children get to experiment with a variety of different things when doing 3D Art. Children enjoy using feathers, buttons, sticks and other items with little thought as to what the end product will be.