The process of art is more important than the product.

"Process" means allowing children to explore art materials with freedom without the pressure to copy a model or stay in the lines.  Process is experimenting with paints, watching the mixing of colors, and feeling the texture of more or less.  Process is gluing various sizes, shapes, and colors of paper together to form a collage.  Process is freedom to experiment and enjoy the feeling of creating without being concerned with the outcome or the product.  Process is creating something that is uniquely yours and not a copy of someone else's.

Art most importantly allows children to problem solve, express their unique creativity and to be and feel successful with the experience.

Creativity is as natural and necessary for children as fresh air and sunshine!  By exposing children to creative experiences, we give them the gift of a rich and memorable childhood while laying the foundation for a lifetime of creative expression- all topped off with a heaping helping of important learning skills.

Good things for you to know about how arts help children grow:

• Engage imagination and feelings
• Children involved in art
  •  imagine, create and express
  • develops self-confidence and self- discippline
  • interpret and relflect life
  • are open to new pathways for learning all subjects
  • think critically, solve problems and make informed judgements
  • work cooperatively within groups
  • appreciate other points of view
• Arts and crafts helps children reach their developmental goals.  The developmental goals of school-age children fall into four main categories: cognitive, emotional, social and sensory motor.  In order to become healthy, happy and productive teenagers and later happy and productive adults, children must have a lot of experiences and repeated practise with tasks in each of these four areas.  Arts and crafts help children experience and practise their skills in all of these areas.
  • How?
    • Arts and crafts develop thinking skills (cognitive development)
    • Arts and crafts develop feeling skills (emotional development)
    • Arts and crafts develop relating skills (social development)
    • Arts and crafts develop coordinating skills (sensory motor development)
• Participating in arts and crafts activates both the linear, left hemisphere and the creative, non-sequencial right hemisphere of the brain.  Generally, here is how the two sides of the brain process information:
  • Left hemisphere is the logical, sequencial brain and is activated by reading, mathematics, or linear problem solving
  • Right hemisphere is the creative, intuitive brain which is activated by art, music and drama.
• Arts and crafts offer children endless oppurtunities to learn by doing.  Brain researchers tell us that children retain more information when hands-on activities go along with that learning.  Children learn:
  • 10% of what they READ
  • 20% of what they HEAR
  • 30% of what they SEE
  • 50% of what they HEAR and READ
  • 70% of what they SAY and
  • 90% of what they DO!

and most of all ART IS FUN!