The Development of Child Art - Part 2

The Studio

Child Development in the area of Art

Part 2

(Taken from Art 4-11 – art in the early years of schooling by Suffolk County Council)

Part one dealt with the child as he experiments with materials and tools. This is around the ages up to 18 months of age.

The stage is characterized by scribbling and is often called The Scribbling Stage.

As the child uses scribbles and as her arm and hand muscles develop, so too does her ability to make careful and more precise marks on a page. As the child explores and experiences the world, so too does her art work expand.

In a very real way the child begins to make closed shapes by accident. Shapes like circles and triangles and other closed shapes emerge as he experiments.

The first real shape is often a circle and the thinking behind why this is, is linked to the idea that a baby first sees a human face. Perhaps it is also the easiest and natural closed shape to make. At the same time as exploring the world, the child is also exploring the world of language. At this point an adult may ask some questions around what the drawing might be and so the child and the significant adult/s begin the process of labeling the work.

It is fun to give the child lots of different experiences with a variety of media. Colourful paint and crayons and large pieces of paper are great.

Children often put the paint on top of layers of other colours. This is all part of the process.

As she begins to understand herself and the world better; as she begins to explore and as her body develops so too will her art work expressed show this development.

I can not express enough that the PROCESS is the thing that matters here for kids. We, the adult, often enjoy and focus on the end PRODUCT, and of course it is special to us, but the actual development and learning and expression happened during the actual act of doing the work.

I run a little art Studio. I have children ages 5 – 11 who come and I have an adult class. It is so interesting to observe the very real difference in confidence in approaching art between the adult group and the children. Young children have a real courage. I think that so much of our courage with art is squeezed out of us . it begins with adults drawing FOR children and NAMING the picture for them. If I can encourage any adult who has a child or who works with children, try and give lots and lots of process work and let the child solve the problems with your guidance. Really try and NOT draw for children but let them go through the motion of learning and developing creative thinking.

Hot tips

• do not draw for children
• Keep a record of their work. It is interesting to spot the stages of art development
• Give lots and lots of different opportunities to draw and paint
• Let the child name the art…. I have painted a….. this can change the next time one asks the child about the same picture.