Integrating Art In Early Childhood Education Essay

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Integrating the arts in early childhood education positively impacts a child’s developmental capacity to learn through different mediums in all subject areas. It also strengthens and enhances the teachers lessons to bring diverse opportunities for students with different aesthetics to effectively comprehend and develop their cognitive skills. According to many childhood theorists, such as Piaget and Vygotsky, art is an essential tool that is important for the development of a child’s motor, cognitive and social-emotional skills. In addition, many believe integrating art into a classroom will impact their learning outcome and enhance their creativity, imagination, self-esteem and thinking inclinations. Art is the “expression …show more content…

Developing the cognitive and meta-cognitive skills of children can be accomplished through art independently and or in groups. Cognitive development refers to the way a child learns to think, reason and problem solve. Kamii and DeVries (1993) suggested that exploring materials is very important because it is through exploration that children build a knowledge of the objects in the world around them.” For example, if a student sketches a portrait of a plant they’ve carefully examined, the student would realize the details and imperfections in the plant that they haven’t noticed before. Based on the imperfections and curiosity, the child would begin to raise questions for clarity. “As children grow and develop, their art making activities move beyond exploring with their senses and begin to involve the use of symbols.” (Berry & Fox, 2008) The use of real objects, symbols or events in a child’s portrait begins to portray how they are feeling and what they are thinking. Art also creates an outlet for students who may have difficultly vocalizing or writing their thoughts or feelings. Integrating art in early childhood education has helped strengthen the development of the child’s motors skills. Throughout the day, the students are constantly using their hands. When the child focuses on art, the student is developing control of their large and small muscles. According to Berry and Fox (2008), the large arm movements required for painting or drawing at an easel or on large paper on the floor build coordination and strength. The

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