OPEN ENDED ART

 First steps to handwriting are taught through drawing, painting, and art projects.

We have open ended art materials and opportunities to use them every single day in my classroom.

Skills youth practice when participating in art activities include: Fine motor skills. Grasping pencils, crayons, chalk and paintbrushes helps children develop their fine motor muscles. This development will help your child with writing, buttoning a coat and other tasks that require controlled movements.

Open ended art means that a variety of materials are provided and available for children to choose. They choose the materials they want to use, how they want to use them, and what they will make. All too often early childhood educators and parents do not value open ended art because it doesn’t always “look like” anything. They want to see an end product.

However, when children are given the opportunity to explore materials, even when they aren’t making something recognizable, they are learning how to use materials, and will later create more elaborate artwork.