This document discusses the benefits of art for early childhood development. It states that art promotes hands-on, self-directed learning and engages children's senses. Art develops important skills like cognitive, emotional and social skills. It also aligns with Erik Erikson's building blocks for healthy development. The document further explains that art builds skills like spatial relations and visual literacy, and enhances print awareness, symbol awareness, and eye-hand-brain coordination. Art also builds verbal and visual creativity, aesthetic awareness, and self-esteem in children. Overall, the document argues that meaningful art experiences provide authentic self-expression for children and support their development in many areas.

1. Art,
Literacy
& Learning

2. WHAT’S
SO
GREAT
ABOUT
ART ? ? ?

3. Art promotes
Hands-On
Self-Directed
Learning

4. Art engages
Children’s Senses
in Open- Ended Play

5. Art Experience
develops
specific skills:
Cognitive
Emotional
Social
Multi-Sensory

6. Eric Erickson’s
BUILDING BLOCKS for healthy child development:
1) Cognitive
2) Emotional
3) Social
4) Kinesthetic/Sensory

7. The Art & Literacy Connection:
HOW DOES IT HAPPEN ?

8. ART BUILDS:
Spatial Relations
& Visual Literacy

9. COMMON ELEMENTS
Language
 Lines
 Shapes
 Letters
 Words
 Sentences
Art
 Lines
 Shapes
 Color
 Texture
 Volume

10. COMMON ELEMENTS: Lines &
Shapes

12. Art promotes PRINT AWARENESS

13. Art promotes symbol awareness
3.5 year old
2.5 year old

14. Art Enhances
Eye – Hand – Brain Coordination

15. BioColor Bird Prints
combine 1 footprint + 2 handprints

16. Art Enhances Verbal & Visual Creativity

17. Balloon Art: Open
Ended Discovery
Balloon Art: Torn &
made into an animal

18. Art Builds
Aesthetic
Awareness
&
Self Esteem

19. Art is a language… not a decoration

20. Meaningful art experiences provide children with
AUTHENTIC SELF EXPRESSION
The freedom of choice, thought & feeling.

21. CHILDREN WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE ARTS:
Imagine, create, express.
Interpret & reflect life.
Develop self confidence & self discipline.
Experience an important window
to different cultures & values.
Think critically, solve problems,
and make informed judgments.
Work cooperatively in groups.
Appreciate others points of view.
Are open to new pathways for learning all subjects.

22. What is arts education?
Movement and Dance
Music
Theatre Arts
Visual Arts

23. Early Arts Education
• Exploration
• Experimentation
• Engagement of the
senses
• Discussion

24. •Guiding Principles for
Arts Education
•The goal of arts education for young
children is to develop and sustain
their natural curiosity,
expressiveness, and creativity.
•Arts education begins with a
foundation that emphasizes
exploration, experimentation,
engagement of the senses, and
discussion as paths to understanding.

25. • Best Practices for Arts Experiences
with Young Children
• Provide developmentally appropriate
materials, equipment, activities.
•
• Provide opportunities to explore a variety
of materials, media, tools.
• Extend children’s learning with verbal
stimulation

26. The Arts Contribute to the
Development of the Whole Child
*Brain development
*Gross motor development
*Fine motor development
*Visual memory development
*Social-emotional development
*Cognitive development

27. Brain Development
Neural Plasticity
•The brain’s greatest capacity
for change occurs during the
early years
Integration
•There needs to be good
communication (integration)
between both sides of the brain

28. Neural Plasticity Use It or Lose It
Birth 6yrs. 14yrs.

29. Integration of the Left/Right
Hemispheres of the Brain

30. •Visual Arts
•Art is way of thinking and demonstrating
the product of thinking.
• Visual learning = improvement in reading,
creativity, math scores.
• Drawing complements the writing and
thinking process.

31. • Drawing forces us to visualize and plan our actions.
• Early exposure to visual images are critical to
stimulate the brain.
• Visual tools can help students think.
•Visual Arts ( continued . . .)