Creative and Open Ended Art in Early Childhood Education

“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what

 to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”

~George Smith Patton, War as I Knew It, 1947

I think for the first few years of teaching in early childhood education I told the preschoolers what to do most of the day. I mean…I was on top of them. Hovering, like some kind of kinder-cop helicopter; alert and ready to airlift anyone with messy pants or a sour disposition.
What’s different now…well, the messy pants part hasn’t changed.

But I defiantly allow leeway when it comes to creativity. Creative art, creative problem solving (conflict resolution skills), creative solutions….
I am not so quick to rush in and have all the answers for the children. Often I find if I simply am a comforting positive and encouraging presence the children have many skills when they have been given a good foundation from the beginning of the school year and understand the rules.
Creative art is also open-ended art and can be done in any area of the preschool classroom and with any type of material. I think it’s one of my favorite areas and center’s to watch the children in.
Children don’t have much control in their own environment- but they do over what goes on their paper.
Art is always a preference with children-some truly enjoy the process of crafts.....
What type of art do your preschoolers enjoy doing?

Early Childhood Educational Memory Activites and Games

"Memory is a child walking along a seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things."

~Pierce Harris, Atlanta Journal

I enjoy story times. Early Childhood Education is not always about the education young children, I have found out. I have learned quite a few things myself-especially from a child’s point of view.
What preschoolers retain, recall, learn and perceive are very important to me. This is why I love hearing them tell me stories and recall events. I will even incorporate it as part of the preschool curriculum…games, activities, even books!

Questions like;
What was your favorite thing you did outside today?
How many kids did you play with at school today?
What is your favorite thing that happened today?
What made you happy today?

What types of questions inspire your children or preschoolers?
*Special thanks to Capri Giles for showing us this video!

Creating Excellent Work Habits in the Early Childhood Classroom

 

Habits are at first cobwebs, then cables. 
~Spanish Proverb

As an early childhood educator I really have a strong desire to teach the young children excellent work habits. Skills that will give them a foundation for success in life and a foundation they can build throughout their own lives.
This is why my studies led me to so many areas of curriculum and methodologies for my own classroom. High/Scope, Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Montessori, Emergent Curriculum, Reggio Emilia,The Multiple Intelligences Theory…and so many more. I really wanted to know what worked in the ways children learned. And there were success stories in all of them.
I think the one that really amazes me now is The Multiple Intelligences Theory. It can keep going on forever…
Because the brain and intelligence is so vast.
If anything, I want preschoolers to know that.

They are capable of anything if they set their whole heart to it.

Creative Movement in Early Childhood Education

Commit to be fit. ~Author Unknown

I really feel that early childhood educators have a certain amount of responsibility encouraging preschoolers to be creative. This leads to creativity throughout our adult lives…ahem.
Creative movement and exercise in early childhood programs can be so much fun, especially infused with the right music and movement activities. When it’s incorporated as part of the preschool curriculum children really look forward to these activities.
Times really have changed; in a world where videos, TV, and technology have really taken over…our preschoolers are being studied to find out why they are gaining more weight and are more likely to eat less healthy foods.
Share with us some great activities and snacks kids love...we'd love to hear them!

Cooking Projects in Early Childhood Education

“The belly rules the mind.” ~Spanish Proverb

I love doing cooking projects with preschoolers. I often get chances to ask them what foods they like, dislike….you know, check out what they know about nutrition. I get great curriculum ideas just from talking to my children-but I really like to find out where they are at first.
That’s the best part of my job.
Here are some responses to what I’ve asked them regarding;

What favorite food do you like to eat?

“My favorite food is cow.”
“Mine is Hang-gabbers.” (Hamburgers, I believe)
“My favorite animal is hot dog”

What kind of food is bad for you?
“Blue meat is bad for you.”
“Dead things is-a bad for you.”
“Bad breath is bad for you.”
“When I am out of my candies…that’s bad.”
"Eatting stuffs that falled off the floor."

How do you make Egg Foo Young?
“You get a baby egg and foo it.” 

    What do you like to cook with kids?                                               

Working with Parents as Partners in Early Childhood Education

“It's so hard when I have to, and so easy when I want to.”

~Annie Gottlier

Creating a sense of community takes time in a preschool environment. I think of it much like building a small city. Everyone has a place and a task….and of course, a temperament.

I really have to spend lots of time getting to know each child as much as I can. Talking with children, doing activities along with the children; math, science and clean up times...everyday routines really do count. One on one bonding can be a difficult task when there are so many little ones at first- but when I spend time investing in the parents and families it makes it much smoother.
This is how I stay connected to families and children:
*I’ll write personal notes on colorful stationary.
*Send home updated questionnaires on changes to foods, allergies, likes and dislikes, usually every 3-6 months (depending on the child)
*Send home humorous anecdotes their child says.
*Thank you notes for having their child come play with us and the wonderful skills I am seeing developing.

I have often seeing that children look to their parents for how to react to school or new situations. Sometimes I spend more time consoling a parent over a situation than a child….and this is necessary for everyone involved, in the end.
I remember one conversation I had with a preschooler while I was working with her mother during her child's preschool transition.
“Ms. Barbra?”
“Yes?”
“I think my mom like for me to go to school now. Yeah.”
“You think so, huh?’
“Yeah-huh, a-cause she didn’t cry in the car today.”
“That sounds sad. Do you like school, though?”
“Yeah-huh, but she really needs to stop crying forever.”
In what ways do you stay connected to young children and families?