Description

Why is art important to toddler development?
• Provides an opportunity for parents and siblings to spend time together.
• Allows children to be creative.
• Children begin to learn colors, color mixing, and shapes.

Things to remember.
• Art is a process that children enjoy and are not necessarily concerned about what the final product looks like.
• Supervise children while they work, but allow them to work freely.
• Comment on artwork according to what you see. "Wow, you have so many beautiful colors in your picture!" Provide them time to talk about your comment.
• Discuss the experience while you work with your child. "I like the way this skinny brush makes skinny lines on my paper." You are providing vocabulary and opportunities to think about the creative process.
• Always have your child wear a paint shirt or smock and cover the area you are working on.
• Use art materials that are age appropriate and the correct size for children. For instance, use large handled brushes or crayons for younger children, tables or easels that are size appropriate and materials that your child will not put in his mouth.
• A good rule of thumb is that art materials smaller than a quarter are not appropriate for children who still put items in their mouth.