Teaching Art in the Early Childhood Years

• “There are many ways to approach the teaching of art.”

The Continuum of Approaches

• Teacher Directed…………..Guided…………Child-Centred

» And all points in between!

The Educator’s Role along the Continuum

Educators can be ready to supply:

• Facts

• Knowledge

• Abilities

• Skills

• Time

• Attention

Also remember…

• Observing and recording

• Assessing

Strive for Balance!

Our goal is to teach children how to have enough control over the media to be able to use them to

create meaning and purpose

What Early Childhood Art Should Be

10 criteria

Childhood Art should …

Allow children to be personally expressive

Balance process and product

Be Open-Ended

Allow for discovery and experimentation

Allow for active engagement

Be intrinsically motivating

Be success-oriented

Be developmentally appropriate

Involve legitimate artistic media

Be available to all children