Because children are naturally drawn to hands-on exploration, art activities can be especially attractive to the toddler. This attraction encourages the gathering of important information through touch. As Dr. Montessori discovered, “The human hand allows the mind to reveal itself.”
Toddler Art Benefits
The benefits of learning through art are many. To begin with, art supports the toddler’s small motor skill development and enhances their sensory learning. The child also learns to sequence and make choices. But for the adult observer, it’s the activity itself that will reveal far more about the child’s abilities than the end product.
Following The Child and Their Interests
Knowing the child’s interests, I prepared three groups as art options:
🎨paint and and 🖌paint brush
📊stickers and 💎sequins
📜tissue paper and 🧴glue to cover a 🍶glass jar.
Limited but attractive choices are best to engage the child’s interest without overwhelming them.
Introducing The Activity
“We are going to work with all of these materials. Do you remember what we need to place on the work table first?”
I walked toward the kitchen and said, “Here are the mats! Which color would you like to use today?” I continued to offer the child choices of each material needed and soon the small work table was prepared.
I sat beside her and asked, “May I take a turn to show you how this works?” She nodded, “Yes“.
After presenting the activity, I asked her if she’d like to listen to “Black Jack Baby” by Elizabeth Mitchell (inspired by @the_nesting__mama 🙏) as she worked. A smile and nod again followed.
As I observed, I made note of her abilities and where I might need to make adjustments or offer repetition. The activity and child will reveal many answers …
Observations
First, she moved the glue-coated paint brush across both the mat and up onto the jar. Next, she crumpled little pieces of paper, quickly realizing that they were sticking to the glue remnants on her fingers. After wiping her fingers, she added a few more pieces of paper to the jar and appeared satisfied. Together, we cleaned up the art activity and she headed to our work shelf.
When her mother arrived, she didn’t mention the jar that she had half decorated or ask to take it home. Instead, she left with new the sensorial, practical life, language, math and cultural skills she had gained from her toddler art activity.✨☺️