VISUAL ARTS RECOURSE FOR EDUCATORS.
This webpage has been designed for early childhood educators as a resource in understanding the importance of visual art for children, as well as providing creative activities for birth to two and three to five year olds. The activities presented in this webpage are structured in accordance with the Victorian Early Years Learning Outcomes. Under each activity you will find a list of the learning outcomes that the children are working towards while participating in the visual arts activity.
Visual arts in early childhood give children the opportunity to express themselves, experiment and use their creativity and imagination in an enjoyable and beneficial way (McArdle, 2008). Through participating in visual arts from an early age children are given opportunities that engage them in exploration and discovery of their environment, while too strengthening of gross and fine motor skills, and this in turn will create a sense of empowerment and connection to the world around them in an enjoyable way (Venables, 2011). Visual arts is also valuable in strengthening social skills through encouraging children to work together and share ideas, through this children can develop rational skills and emotional intelligence, these attributed being crucial to lifelong success (Cooper & Sjostrom, 2006). Through the activities presented in this recourse children are able to enjoy visual art activities that involve different types of materials, textures, colors, shapes and mediums, and they are able to manipulate these elements to reflect their own ideas and imagination to create a unique and personal piece of art their way (Powell, 2000). The activities do not restrict creativity and the educator will support and guide the child through completing their piece. Visual art activities such as this also enhance meaningful participation for children (McArdle, 2008). Such activities allow students to respond to their own learning as well as other’s creativity, which creates a desire for recognition of self (Venables, 2011). Children can then build a sense of belonging and connection to others, through shared participation in enjoyable activity. Visual arts is not only beneficial for children, it is also beneficial for Teachers. Through art they are able to embed cultural or Indigenous perspectives in practice (such as painting boomerangs, didgeridoos or dot paintings) (Miller, 2011), introduce new topics and allow children to develop ideas for other subject areas (McArdle, 2008). Visual arts also provides valuable communication and interaction between educator and child, through the use of open ended questions that allow the child to express their thoughts and ideas. |