Lesson 13 : Developmental Levels in Art in Children
Suitable art activities
Use of figures: note how the child uses figures. See if the paper is filling with many unrelated figures that just fill space and look like practice forms. If there is no real connection between figures, it means the child is at an early period in the stage; the child is practicing a symbol and is not yet ready to tell a story with it.
Naming drawing: Be sure to listen to the child who wants to talk about a drawing note. If the child names certain things, figures, or the whole thing, but never force the child to tell you “what it is”. Naming must come only through the child’s own idea. It is an important step in the child’s creativity and ability to communicate with the environment.
Try the following activities and note the observations
Read a story about animals to the children before art period. Do not tell them to draw animals but observe their drawings.
Display prints of famous artworks.
Play a record during part of period. Compare the drawings made with music to those done without music.
The following ideas may be helpful in motivating children
Empty roll-on deodorant bottles can be used as “ball point pens” when filled with paint.
A can of hair spray will substitute for expensive fixative to keep art work from smearing. ( chalk, pastels, pencils, charcoal etc)
Make exciting finger paint by adding food color and essence such as vanilla for a great lesson on the senses.
Add a drop of the oil of cloves, oil of peppermint, lemon juice, vanilla to paint which gives a different smell.
Use wooden or aluminum clothes drying rack and pins for drying children’s paintings.
Participants