Children love to create! They love to be able to use their imagination to express themselves in their own unique way. Parents and teachers know that doing arts and crafts will keep most children busy. Even children with a short attention span will engage in an activity that provides them the opportunity to create. But did you realize there are a couple of different ways to approach arts and crafts? One way focuses on the product while the other way focuses on the process.
Product-focused art is when a child is given instructions (a “right way”) to create a specific craft. They are given specific tools and materials to use and they are shown a sample of a finished product to which they can compare their own. Product art can be useful for practicing fine motor skills and teaching children to follow directions, but there is not a lot of room for individual creativity which is what children enjoy the most. They may become discouraged when their finished product does not look like the ones their friends made or like the sample they were shown. It is not uncommon for children to hurry though product-focused art and to not be as excited about their finished product.
Process-focused art, on the other hand, allows children to freely create whatever comes to mind. There are no specific instructions to follow. There is no sample for them to compare their own creation to. Instead, children can focus on the creative experience by using a variety of tools and materials to express their imagination. During process art, children are more engaged and more excited about their finished product. You will see their excitement when they proudly proclaim, “Look what I made!”
The self-guided approach of process-focused art fits in perfectly with the Montessori approach to learning. Preparing an art area with a variety of tools and materials and allowing children to freely choose and create at their own pace is the key to enjoyable art experiences. When you walk into the classrooms at All Stars Montessori, you will find art areas with: crayons, markers, daubers, glue, feathers, buttons, sequins, paint, cotton balls, popsicle sticks, clay, beads and much more. As children create with these materials, they will be practicing their fine motor skills, using their imagination, problem-solving and gaining confidence as they see their own work unfold.
Although there is a time for both approaches to arts and crafts, the best way to foster your child’s creativity and to encourage their individuality is to allow for process-focused art experiences often. You will enjoy the final product even more when it is your little artist’s own individual creation!
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