09/22/2022
๐ฉโ๐จWhether theyโre drawing, painting, crafting, or sculptingโฆ
โฆYour child reaps huge benefits from their artistic explorations.
Art builds imagination, self-expression, and cognitive connections.
And in the Montessori classroom, your child immerses in open-ended creative activities, which foster problem-solving skills and critical thinking.
So, how can you also support those vital skills at home?
๐๐ข๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
Designate a space for arts and crafts materials: not only paints and crayons but recycled boxes, dry pasta, Q-tips, colored paperโฆ A selection. Let your child know they have access when they want so they can create whenever theyโre inspired.
๐ญ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Ask your child what theyโre going to make. Building a mental picture before starting a project develops critical thinking skills. They might change the plan as they work, and thatโs fine! Itโs all part of the process.
๐ค๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
When they get started, leave them to it. Maria Montessori said, โThe child who concentrates is immensely happy,โ and we practice non-interference in the Prepared Environment. When your child is immersed in their creative process, they can try, fail, discover, and grow.
๐ฃ๏ธ๐ง๐ฎ๐น๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ถ๐
If they want to show you their work, ask open-ended questions and focus on the process rather than the product, so they build vocabulary around art-making as well as their actions and intentions.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ก๐ฎ, ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ง:
Something as simple as peace and quiet with a pencil and paper works untold wonders.
As they scribble and doodle, creating shapes and pictures, they:
๐ญExercise their imagination
๐คBuild fine motor skills they need for writing, buttoning, and tying
๐งโโ๏ธSelf-soothe and discover a way to regulate their emotions
Have fun!
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