Greetings and welcome to the ED 206 unit.

In recent years, from a global perspective,

school curricula have shifted heavily toward
common core subjects of reading and math,
but what about the arts? Although some may
regard art education as a luxury, simple
creative activities are some of the building
blocks of child development. Learning to create
and appreciate visual aesthetics may be more
important than ever to the development of the
next generation of children as they grow up.

Developmental Benefits of Art

Motor Skills: Many of the motions involved in
making art, such as holding a paintbrush or
scribbling with a crayon, are essential to the
growth of fine motor skills in young children.
According to the National Institutes of Health,
developmental milestones around age three
should include drawing a circle and beginning
to use safety scissors. Around age four, children
may be able to draw a square and begin cutting
straight lines with scissors. Many preschool
programmes emphasise the use of scissors
because it develops the dexterity children will
need for writing.
Language Development: For very young
children, making art—or just talking about it—
provides opportunities to learn words for
colors, shapes and actions. When toddlers are
as young as a year old, parents can do simple
activities such as crumpling up paper and
calling it a “ball.” By elementary school,
students can use descriptive words to discuss
their own creations or to talk about what
feelings are elicited when they see different
styles of artwork.
Decision Making: According to a report by
Americans for the Arts, art education
strengthens problem-solving and critical-
thinking skills. The experience of making
decisions and choices in the course of creating
art carries over into other parts of life. “If they
are exploring and thinking and experimenting
and trying new ideas, then creativity has a
chance to blossom,” says MaryAnn Kohl, an arts
educator and author of numerous books about
children’s art education.
Visual Learning: Drawing, sculpting with clay
and threading beads on a string all develop
visual-spatial skills, which are more important
than ever. Even toddlers know how to operate
a smart phone or tablet, which means that
even before they can read, kids are taking in
visual information. This information consists of
cues that we get from pictures or three-
dimensional objects from digital media, books
and television.
“Parents need to be aware that children learn a
lot more from graphic sources now than in the
past,” says Dr. Kerry Freedman, Head of Art and
Design Education at Northern Illinois University.
“Children need to know more about the world
than just what they can learn through text and
numbers. Art education teaches students how
to interpret, criticize, and use visual
information, and how to make choices based
on it.” Knowledge about the visual arts, such as
graphic symbolism, is especially important in
helping kids become smart consumers and
navigate a world filled with marketing logos.
Inventiveness: When kids are encouraged to
express themselves and take risks in creating
art, they develop a sense of innovation that will
be important in their adult lives. “The kind of
people society needs to make it move forward
are thinking, inventive people who seek new
ways and improvements, not people who can
only follow directions,” says Kohl. “Art is a way
to encourage the process and the experience of
thinking and making things better!”
Cultural Awareness: As we live in an
increasingly diverse society, the images of
different groups in the media may also present
mixed messages. Teaching children to
recognize the choices an artist or designer
makes in portraying a subject helps kids
understand the concept that what they see
may be someone’s interpretation of reality.
Improved Academic Performance: Studies show
that there is a correlation between art and
other achievement. A report by Americans for
the Arts states that young people who
participate regularly in the arts (three hours a
day on three days each week through one full
year) are four times more likely to be
recognised for academic achievement, to
participate in a math and science fair or to win
an award for writing an essay or poem than
children who do not participate.

At this point, you will need to read Topics 1, 2 &

3 under Core Components of this Module, in our
moodle shell, to provide you with in-depth
information on certain theoretical perspectives
on and definitions of creativity.
 School curricula globally have prioritized
common core subjects like reading and
math, but the significance of arts education
shouldn't be overlooked.
 Arts activities are crucial for child
development, offering benefits such as
motor skill refinement, language
acquisition, decision-making skills, visual-
spatial skill development, inventiveness,
cultural awareness, and improved academic
performance.
 Motor Skills:
 Art activities like painting and drawing
aid in the development of fine motor
skills.
 Milestones include drawing circles by
age three and cutting straight lines by
age four.
 Language Development:
 Art provides opportunities for learning
color, shape, and action words.
 By elementary school, students can
describe their creations and discuss
emotional responses to artwork.
 Decision Making:
 Art education enhances problem-solving
and critical-thinking skills.
 Encourages experimentation and
creative thinking.
 Visual Learning:
 Art activities promote visual-spatial
skills crucial in today's digital world.
 Children learn to interpret and critique
visual information.
 Inventiveness:
 Art fosters innovation and risk-taking,
essential for adult life.
 Encourages independent thought and
creative problem-solving.
 Cultural Awareness:
 Art helps children understand diverse
perspectives and representations.
 Encourages critical thinking about
cultural messages in media.
 Improved Academic Performance:
 Engagement in the arts correlates with
academic achievement.
 Students who participate in the arts are
more likely to excel academically.
 In-depth exploration of theoretical
perspectives and definitions of creativity
will be covered in Topics 1, 2, & 3 in the
Moodle shell.

 Creativity starts early in life, with babies

exploring sounds and toddlers making
marks with various materials.
 During preschool years, children engage in
meaningful creative activities like drawing,
music, and movement.
 Early involvement in sensory experiences
and creative arts enhances sensory
awareness and lays a foundation for future
creativity and learning.
 Research into creativity focuses on the
creative process, introducing Wallas' four
steps and discussing how they apply to
young children.
 Understanding young children's
development and learning is grounded in
theories such as Piaget's, Vygotsky's, and
Gardner's, offering insights into creativity
and holistic development.
 The course introduces the process approach
to creative expression, emphasizing hands-
 on exploration, problem-solving, and child-
led activities.
 Teachers play a crucial role in fostering
creativity by providing an environment
conducive to exploration and including
creative arts in daily programs.
 Creative arts encompass dance, drama,
music, visual arts, and literature, offering
opportunities for holistic development, self-
expression, cooperative learning, and
communication.