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Kristin
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| Posted: Nov 21 2006 at 5:03pm | IP Logged
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In your own homes, how do you go about an art or craft project with a very young / young child? I am very conscious of process being more important than product when it comes to art with our toddler and preschooler but sometimes find it difficult to distinguish instruction from intervention or posing an impediment to their creativity!
For example, how does a child learn to draw a face? Do they do it completely on their own without any prompting (as in one day they wake up and do it)? Do you show them how to draw one and then wait for them to do it when they feel like it? Or do you lead them through step by step and then stand back and let them decide when they want to do more on their own? I'm afraid that by doing a demonstration of my own our children will feel that their art is not good enough because it doesn't look like mine!
Also, what guidelines do you use for helping yourself stand back and not interfere with the process or over-emphasize the product? Any input or ideas are very welcome! This one has got me stumped!!! 
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Essy
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Great question and I can't wait to read some responses. I've been wondering the exact same thing myself. Also my daughter's favorite 'art' form is to just get some paints and colored glues and dab them all over a white piece of paper (we use do-a-dots too). Is there a method to 'teaching' art?
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SaraP
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Kristen wrote:
| For example, how does a child learn to draw a face? Do they do it completely on their own without any prompting (as in one day they wake up and do it)? |
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Yes. At least both of my older two (5 and almost 4) have. One day they were scribbling and the next they were drawing all sorts of recognizable objects - faces, animals, letters.
I usually don't do projects with my little ones that involve many steps or have a definite product in mind, though. I will introduce the medium and show them how it is used ("These are water color paints. You put a little water on each color paint, wait a bit for it to soften and then use a brush to spread the paint on your paper."), but then unless they are abusing or wasting the supplies I don't interfere at all in the process and worry at all about the product.
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mellyrose
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I've always tried to provide lots of supplies - and little instruction. I like to give them the larger sizes of paper (11x17) in mostly white, sometimes color. Provide pencils, crayons, paints, markers, etc (although not all at the same time).
Both my boys have gone from scribbling to recognizable objects with little to no input from me. I've always tried to let art be about the process, vs the result.
This year (they are 6 & 4.5) we are following a simple art dvd program that shows them different things like patterns, lines, textures etc. but it is still very much about the process.
Melanie
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MaryM
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I have always found this topic really interesting. And as some have already mentioned, yes, the ability to draw something that represents a real object is developmental. In fact one of the questions commonly asked at pediatric visits for certain age physicals is, can your child draw a face? a person?
It is really fascinating to watch this skill and perception develop in your child. One of the first milestones is the change from random scribbling to more circular movement, then ability to draw a circle which is really the first shape a child draws. That then gets detailed with facial features (rudimentary at first - just dots and scribbles, but develops over time). Then later there is the ability/understanding to add arms and legs to represent people. First the two arms and two legs will be drawn directly off the head. It isn't until later that they get the concept of a body attached to head and appendages coming from that. I did find a couple sites that I think outline the thoughts on the development of artistic representation/drawing in children. Hope this helps.
Drawing Development in Children
Young at Art
There are a couple very good books on the art process for young children. Several are by Mary Ann Kohl. She is excellent and definitely emphasizes process rather than product.
First Art: Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos
Scribble Art (also formerly know as Scribble Cookies)
Primary Art: It's the Process not the Product
She also has a series for preschool art, subtitled "It's the Process not the Product" which I have not seen but imagine are as great as her other books.
Another very good book is Bev Bos' Don't Move the Muffin Tins. It's written for early-childhood educators setting up an experiencial art center in their school setting, but is easily adaptable to general home use.
I don't know if I have any particular ideas for how to actually step back other than to literally step back. Provide the materials and a child-friendly environment to explore and just step back. Good weather is nice because you can actually do it outside - no worry about the mess and clean-up (old clothes or ample coverups are a must). Vary the media and materials. Crayons, markers, watercolors, chalk are good firsts.
Here is an example of one of the process oriented activities from an above mentioned book.
Scribble Cookies by Mary Ann Kohl - "Experipaint"
TRY-
1. dry paints on wet paper
2. wet paint on wet paper
3. crumbled paper
4. bumpy paper
5. very smooth paper
6. thick and thin paints
7. paint ON: fabric
wood
leaves
rocks
8. paint WITH: large wide brush
stick
cotton swab
cotton ball
sponge
feather duster
feather
hands, feet, elbows
turkey baster
gadgets, junk
yarn ball
Some past threads of interest:
Craft Guilt
Art: Where to Start?
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Essy
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| Posted: Nov 24 2006 at 4:17pm | IP Logged
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"First the two arms and two legs will be drawn directly off the head"
Wow...that is exactly what my 4 yr old has been doing for a while and I had no idea why...lol. Thanks. I'll have to check out those links.
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Kristin
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| Posted: Nov 26 2006 at 3:38pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the ideas, everyone! 
Mary, your post is full of so many useful links and resources! I can't wait to get started with them!!! I've seen some progressive children's drawings but didn't realize that it is developmental, per se, or that it completely evolves on it's own! That is so neat.
Also, thanks for the tip to "literally step back" --- I think that will really help!  
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SuzanneG
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I am just now reading this! Thank you so much, Mary, for the links. I have been interested in this for the past year or so....having a 5,4,and 3 year old, and not being very knowledgable about children's art process....myself. It IS fascinating.
I have Mary Ann Kohl's Preschool Art book,and we use it a lot; it's very helpful. I've also checked out her other books from the library. I like her Scribble Art book too.
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ElizaPA
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Kristin,
Let them go. Stand back and just keep providing the paper. I learned very early on what is beautiful to us is completely different from what is beautiful and interesting to them. My oldest is very artistic and self-taught. When she used to paint with watercolors, I'd get the bigger, thicker sketch pad (usually 50 sheets to a tablet) and just tear them off and store them in the empty notebook. I discovered these in the attic once when clutter clearing. What I had was 6 empty notebooks full of painted scribbles. As I looked through them I wondered why I saved them, they were just swooshes and strokes of color. As i was about to throw them away, i realized they were the foundation of her ability to draw and paint. So of course, i saved them. In contrast, my second child always compared his work to the product of his older, artistic sister and has spent a lot less time with the scribbling and as a result is less confident and interested in drawing and painting.
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: Art - Painting outside the lines ...
