Process art is a hugely positive way to foster creativity in toddlers and preschoolers and comes with many benefits. Process art is all about the experience, rather than the final outcome, providing toddlers and preschoolers with the opportunity to be themselves, make their own decisions and to have the freedom to be creative in a way that suits their learning.
Process art is a hugely positive way to foster creativity in toddlers and preschoolers and comes with many benefits.
Process art is all about the experience, rather than the final outcome, providing toddlers and preschoolers with the opportunity to be themselves, make their own decisions and to have the freedom to be creative in a way that suits their learning.
Find out more about the benefits of process art for your toddler or preschooler from our friends at Mud Mates.
Benefits of process art for toddlers & preschoolers
1. Develops creativity & risk taking
One of the main benefits of process art is that it allows toddlers and preschoolers the chance to discover how things work and to explore different materials they’re not familiar with.
It encourages them to take some risks and helps them to develop their creativity by thinking of new ways to use basic items or items they’ve not seen before.
With process art, the focus is placed on the ‘process’ of creating rather than the end product. This includes your toddler or preschooler gathering the materials, organising or sorting them, preparing them and assembling them in a creative way.
Process art also provides a great opportunity for your toddler or preschooler to explore the world around them by using natural materials as well.
2. Supports individuality & imaginative skills
Another benefit of process art is that it supports the development of your toddler’s or preschooler’s individuality and imagination.
Each piece of art that your toddler or preschooler produces is entirely their own and cannot be compared to others.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t recognise what they’ve created or if it doesn’t resemble anything you’ve ever seen before.
With process art there is no competition and no frustration about the end result looking a certain way.
The only requirement for this type of art project is that your toddler or preschooler is having fun creating … something!
3. No specific instructions required
Unlike product-focused art, one of the benefits of process art is that there are no instructions for toddlers and preschoolers to follow.
They don’t need to be told by parents and caregivers how to draw or paint in a certain way, nor to follow step by step guidelines or to copy predetermined examples.
The art they produce is entirely their own. There is no right or wrong way to create it.
4. Nurtures emotional health
Process art is great for releasing the challenging emotions that toddlers and preschoolers often experience when they’re unable to communicate effectively at a young age.
Process art can help nurture your toddler’s or preschooler’s emotional health by reinforcing skills such as relaxation, focus, self-esteem and emotional sharing.
Planning a process art session
Some of the process art activities that your toddler or preschooler will undertake will be messy, so have a plan in place before you get started to help minimise the mess and clear up time.
For instance, perhaps consider …
- Where will your toddler or preschooler be working? Inside or outside?
- What will they be working on and will it need to be covered? The floor, a bench or table?
- What will your toddler or preschooler be wearing? Will they need protective coveralls, old clothes or art apron?
- Where will the process art be kept once it’s finished? Do you have somewhere in mind where their masterpiece can be dried or displayed once it’s finished?
Process art activities
For toddlers and preschoolers to truly experience the magic of their process art activities they need to be given the opportunity to approach them in their own way and at their own pace.
This means allowing them as much time as they need to complete their work.
There is also plenty of opportunity for discussion and new learning to be shared along the way, so talk with your toddler or preschooler about their work and what they’ve created.
Process art activities for your toddler or preschooler to try are endless.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Make your own paint brushes using small branches or flowers, cotton buds, tooth brushes, combs, spoon etc.
- Try painting with potato stamps or other vegetables, make your own sponge stamps, or stamps using cardboard tubes or stones.
- Create different pictures using old buttons, pebbles or glass gems.
- Use different surfaces like canvas, paper, fabric and wood to paint on. You could even make your own painted rocks!
- Build sculptures with cardboard tubes, boxes, fabric scraps, plastic trays, wood pieces, jar lids, tins etc.
- Explore painting with everyday objects such as spatulas, fly swat painting, or even squirt coloured water onto paper towels.
More kids play articles for you to enjoy:
- Benefits of messy play for preschoolers
- 5 Reasons why kids need to play outside in winter
- Messy play survival tips for parents
Source: This article was written by Mud Mates - Taking care of messy kids with protective over-garments, perfect for dirty, messy play, indoors and out.
