During the month of September, we welcomed many new children into the Toddler 2 program! Some children joined us from the infant program and for others it is their first time ever being in child care. As we get to know one another in a large group setting, we spent a lot of time focusing on building relationships and fostering each child’s sense of belonging. Throughout the month we engaged in numerous activities that promoted self expression and peer interactions.
One activity was an art experience as we created a mural together! A large piece of brown mural paper was laid out across a table with various colouring materials readily available. The children had a choice of markers, oil pastels and crayons to draw and create their masterpiece with. The children stood side by side as they began to share the materials and colour together.
During this experience the children fostered their colour recognition skills as they worked with their educators and peers to identify the colours that they were using. The toddlers also enhanced their fine motor abilities as they held the drawing materials in their hands by utilizing both their pincer and Palmer grasp. Collaborative art provides opportunities for personal expression and communication while also improving children’s social skills and boosting their self esteem/self confidence.
In another week, the toddlers had a cozy day as we all came together in our comfy pjs! Throughout the morning the children engaged in a process-oriented painting experience. Process Art in Early Childhood focuses on the act of creating, making, experimenting, and discovering, rather than the art product itself. Children use exploration to discover new materials, techniques, and tools in an open-ended way that encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative learning.
Instead of using a paint brush as our painting tool, the toddlers used cookie cutter shapes! When their artwork was dry, it was then displayed in the classroom along with photographs for the children to see themselves engaging in the experience. Painting experiences boost children’s self esteem and help them to improve their communication skills as they build upon their vocabulary.
