The Development of Creative Art Abilities in 0- to 3-Year-Olds

Toddler art

During the first three years, young children develop their artistic skills by having fun experimenting and learning all the wonderful things they can do. Child care providers need to understand how children’s art abilities develop in order to plan effective art experiences for the child care program.

Art for 0 and 1 Year Olds

When babies engage in creative art, it is a whole body experience. They often are as interested in grasping, chewing, pounding and squishing as they are …

Balancing Process and Product in Creative Art Activities

Toddler painting with squeeze bottle

Well-planned art experiences are a valuable part of the child care curriculum. Early childhood art activities need to balance process and product. Process is doing, product is the result. Young children are process-oriented. For infants and toddlers, the joy of art is in the doing and making. They usually want lots of finger paint, really squish it around, and then pay no attention to what happens to their picture afterward.

Preschoolers love to experiment with color and design. They do …