So Over Art!!!

[Thriftylady]

I hope some of you have some ideas, because I am so beyond frustrated!

I have posted about DCB before. I still think he has some issues, but he has learned all of his uppercase and lowercase letters (by sight), and can now say the alphabet. He has learned his numbers (by sight) to 20 and can now count to 40.

What he can't do is follow directions in any setting. He also can't seem to play by himself without talking to me constantly about what he is doing. Sending him to play in the playroom is like torture to him.

But art seriously has me about to throw in the towel. I have finally got him taught how to hold scissors, he still doesn't use them well, but he hasn't been exposed before coming here. Following directions... Not happening. Today we did the paper plate where you cut the center out, cut ears from the center and glue them on and the whiskers. I practically have to hold his hand and help him glue anything. You tell him "glue that on" and he looks at you like you have six eyes. All he needs to do is push it on the glue sponge and put it on his art, but unless you tell him with every piece and sometimes take his hand and help him, he won't (or can't?) do it?

He needs to be doing the art as far as I am concerned to help him learn some independence I think? But I am so frustrated by it. Every. single. art. project. goes this way. He is my only all day kiddo right now, the rest are before and after school so the only one doing art. It is so frustrating to prep art projects and then practically have to do it for him. Ideas? Thoughts? Advice?

[childcaremom]

Maybe doing some open ended things with him.

Glue on paper and then scrunching up tissue paper squares to put on. You can help him with the glue or just get him to do it however he wants.

I did mosaics this way, too. Precut shapes in lots of different colours. Put gluestick all over the paper and then stuck them on.

Cut out shapes for the mosaics. Get some scissor practice in but it doesn't have to be a set design or cut.

How are his fine motor skills? I had a little guy start with not a lot of experience with any art stuff and we did a lot of playdough to build up strength. Still do a lot of playdough. It's his favourite thing. He struggled at the beginning with getting any movement with the dough at all and over the past year has progressed to making tiny balls, rolling out skinny snakes, etc.

Blank paper and crayons/markers.

Blank paper, paint, and different utensils to paint with (we use everything but paint brushes).

Hope that gives you some ideas.

[laundrymom]

I would give instruction. Provide some reminding and let it end up how it ends up. Smile big, put it w everyone elses and call it a day.
Art isn't about making a paper plate cat. It's about experiencing different media and placing that media how or where it feels right. And not everyone can do a craft. Nor should they be expected to.
Maybe he has a different expression for his talents.
If it's scissor control you're working on maybe a different type of practice would be better. Letting him go hog wild w an old magazine. Experiencing the way the paper feels between the fingers, scissors, fists.
If he chooses to not use scissors the world won't end.

[Ariana]

I agree with the others. Maybe finding something artsy that he wants to do would help? I have had kids like this who just cannot do art. I usually start really small and with zero direction. Paint is a big draw for most kids so how about letting him loose with some paint? Then maybe markers and crayons? Then graduate to glue. I always start glue projects by putting the glue on for them and then giving them a bunch of collage materials to put on the paper with lots of encouragement. The next step is putting glue in a little container with a coffee stir stick so they can glue themselves how they want. Be patient about gow much glue they use because they usually go crazy at first

As for scissors can you get a pair of those scissors that only need to be squeezed without having to put thumbs and fingers in? That might be a good start and start small with him cutting strips of paper making little squares. Most kids find that fun and it is pretty easy to do.

[Thriftylady]

I would give instruction. Provide some reminding and let it end up how it ends up. Smile big, put it w everyone elses and call it a day.
Art isn't about making a paper plate cat. It's about experiencing different media and placing that media how or where it feels right. And not everyone can do a craft. Nor should they be expected to.
Maybe he has a different expression for his talents.
If it's scissor control you're working on maybe a different type of practice would be better. Letting him go hog wild w an old magazine. Experiencing the way the paper feels between the fingers, scissors, fists.
If he chooses to not use scissors the world won't end.

The thing is I give instruction, and then he sits there and looks at me or the art, won't touch it. He will use scissors, but as far as picking something up and gluing it, nope! Doing something with what he cut? He acts like he has no clue what the instruction was. He will cut it out and say "now am I done?" and sit there and stare at me.

[laundrymom]

I would smile and say. Ok. I hope you liked it. Would you like to watch the others finish or go read a book.
I would stop giving so much extra attention. He's choosing to not participate. And getting extra attention for it.
Maybe making it a non issue will encourage him to do more?

[Play Care]

I would smile and say. Ok. I hope you liked it. Would you like to watch the others finish or go read a book.
I would stop giving so much extra attention. He's choosing to not participate. And getting extra attention for it.
Maybe making it a non issue will encourage him to do more?

[Thriftylady]

I would smile and say. Ok. I hope you liked it. Would you like to watch the others finish or go read a book.
I would stop giving so much extra attention. He's choosing to not participate. And getting extra attention for it.
Maybe making it a non issue will encourage him to do more?

You might be onto something. Since he is the only one he can't watch the others. But I could just put art away. He does have some attention seeking behaviors so maybe that is what this is. His sister is the same way has to constantly be talking to me, or making noises so I notice them. I am wondering if they get any attention at home.

[Unregistered]

I would smile and say. Ok. I hope you liked it. Would you like to watch the others finish or go read a book.
I would stop giving so much extra attention. He's choosing to not participate. And getting extra attention for it.
Maybe making it a non issue will encourage him to do more?

Agree. Don't let it frustrate you! Just let it go...

[Thriftylady]

Agree. Don't let it frustrate you! Just let it go...

I'll try! I guess the reason it frustrates is me is because when he starts kindy in the fall, I know they will expect him to follow directions and work somewhat independently. I so want him to be ready to succeed in kindy. But I guess I have to accept that I can't do it all. I know parents don't work with him at all, or big sis for that matter. She is in first grade and doesn't even recognize all the letters yet. It made me so mad one night when dad said "I have been working hard with him in the evenings". When mom told me "we haven't worked with him at all" and the kids say "mom and dad don't want to do learning with us".

[Blackcat31]

Give him opportunities to hone is emerging skills verses expecting something concrete.

Give him scissors and a bunch of scrap paper. Tell him to cut until he can't cut the paper any smaller. Give him squiggly lines to try and follow with the scissors...(Pinterest is great for scissor practice sheets...)

Give him a single instruction.
Work on mastering that.
Give him 2 step instructions.
Work on mastering that.

Etc etc...

Knowing the skills you have completed is good but being HIGHLY skilled in those areas is better.

[Blackcat31]

Here are some great tips and information from the Ooey gooey lady

http://www.ooeygooey.com/handouts/art.pdf

Great info from NAEYC about process art:

http://www.naeyc.org/tyc/article/process-art-experiences

[Unregistered]

I say open ended art too. Let him just do whatever he wants. Maybe it's just not his thing. Maybe he doesn't care about doing it. You could sit side-by-side with him and just happily create and see if he models you. Maybe it would take the pressure off him and he'd start having fun creating along side of you.

He is certainly old enough. Maybe it's because he's the only one. I've taught 4k and I never saw a child his age that couldn't do the type of things you are asking but some who were not all that interested.

Kids here are in full time public 4k at his age. I know they would think he has a delay if he can't do those types of things. There's a difference between can't and won't.

I see posts of what their 3k kids are doing. Cutting all these pieces out and placing them just so. I always wonder where is the creativity. They push those kids hard!

Good luck!

[Thriftylady]

I do believe in open ended art and we do it often. But I guess I am somewhat caving to parents and I shouldn't I guess. It seems the parents want to see all these great things their kids are doing. I guess to me it doesn't really matter as long as they are learning the skills that art teaches.

[permanentvacation]

How old is he? Does he follow other instructions such as 'Put the block on the shelf. Sit in the chair. Pick the book up off of the floor.? Is it that he truly does not understand simple commands or that either he has no clue what art project commands such as 'Put glue on this.' means or that he just doesn't like doing art projects and just wants to go play with toys.

By you saying that he didn't do art projects before coming to your daycare and that all the other children in your care are at school all day, it might just be that he hasn't obtained an understanding or interest in art and doesn't see the 'fun' of it yet. He might be more -so thinking, "Why are you telling me to do this weird stuff (art) that I've never done before and when can I just go play because I understand and enjoy playing."

Since there are no other children showing off their art projects to get him excited about showing his 'friends' his art project, maybe while you are helping him to make his project, you can make your art project alongside him as if you were another child. While you are making your project, show him how excited and how neat it is to make your project (like a child would) to try to get him to feel that doing his project is interesting, fun, and exciting.