So Over Art!!!

[Laurel]

I would do open art almost exclusively but would do things like you are describing simply to teach following directions, so I get what you are saying.

Do you have one made ahead that he can reference? At first I didn't do that and then realized that the picture in my head of how it was supposed to look wasn't helping the children visualize it unless they were mind readers, .

So I always had one made ahead or made my own alongside them so they would get what I was asking them to do. That could be the problem. I think one made ahead is best so they get that the circle you are pasting is an eye and should go where an eye normally goes on a face.

I am also curious as to whether he can follow directions if they don't relate to art.

[Thriftylady]

I would do open art almost exclusively but would do things like you are describing simply to teach following directions, so I get what you are saying.

Do you have one made ahead that he can reference? At first I didn't do that and then realized that the picture in my head of how it was supposed to look wasn't helping the children visualize it unless they were mind readers, .

So I always had one made ahead or made my own alongside them so they would get what I was asking them to do. That could be the problem. I think one made ahead is best so they get that the circle you are pasting is an eye and should go where an eye normally goes on a face.

I am also curious as to whether he can follow directions if they don't relate to art.

Sometimes he can follow directions, other times he can't. I know something is off with him, but his parents are in denial and refuse to take him to the doctor. I haven't done one made ahead, but will consider doing that in the future.

[Unregistered]

I actually believe that making a finished product for him to copy and try to imitate is going in the opposite direction of what you where you want to be going. I would not model (no sitting beside and making something he could never replicate and therefore be made to feel inadequate) and I would not make a finished product with step by step instructions on how to get there. That isn't art. That isn't creative. I don't want to offend- I'm just being honest. Art and creativity is using items however your mind chooses and doing what you want. This will be so beneficial in many areas- and doing the opposite (directing the art) is detrimental in so many ways, it seems clear what is the better choice. If he is able to use his own ideas without any hopes of any final product (on your end), he will develop creativity, decision making, and problem solving. He will hypothesize, test, experiment. He will take pride in using his own ideas and seeing his own work- self confidence and self esteem boosted. All he will get out of a directed project is how to follow your directions, and the fine motor he will get either way; but also from the directed art he will have diminished self confidence because he will definitely not make his as good as yours. Also he'll miss out on all the decisions, testing, experiments, self expression, FUN, etc. Art should be done only for the process, not the product.

If the parents want viewable evidence of his artistic development, take photos while he plays with real art materials: paint, play doh, shaving cream, water with cornflour, scissors cutting strips. These artistic processes will provide nothing to keep, but take pictures. You can frame them and hang them or email, text or print and give the photos to parents. If you really want to teach following directions, try giving directions at other, non-creative times. For example: "Put your shoes on the bottom shelf and hang your hat on the peg there, thanks!" Etc...

I wanted to add that if he is alone with no other kids and you say 'go do art' or 'go do toys', I think, it makes sense that he doesn't want to do anything. It would be super lonely and boring. Granted children need to develop a sense of Independence and need some time to be on their own, not entertained by others. But, they also really need to be interacting a lot more than they need time alone. A lot more. I don't think you are ignoring him or leaving him alone all day, but I can see why he isn't doing anything. Children always want a toy that is 'in play', right? As you have it now, there is never a toy 'in play'. They don't care about the baby stroller that's been sitting there all morning until someone makes it interesting by playing with it, then EVERYBODY wants that stroller! Then they have conflict, communication, problem solving, resolving, turn taking, waiting a turn, etc. That's how they develop in all the ways they need to. And when they do develop all those ways thru organic interactions, they learn the cognitive skills necessary to follow directions, etc. They don't need instruction, lessons, table time, circle time, group time, yoga, Spanish, crafts or math time to learn it. They learn it from.....play!!!! If you read all that, thank you! Off my 'play' soap box for today Calcare

[Josiegirl]

I actually believe that making a finished product for him to copy and try to imitate is going in the opposite direction of what you where you want to be going. I would not model (no sitting beside and making something he could never replicate and therefore be made to feel inadequate) and I would not make a finished product with step by step instructions on how to get there. That isn't art. That isn't creative. I don't want to offend- I'm just being honest. Art and creativity is using items however your mind chooses and doing what you want. This will be so beneficial in many areas- and doing the opposite (directing the art) is detrimental in so many ways, it seems clear what is the better choice. If he is able to use his own ideas without any hopes of any final product (on your end), he will develop creativity, decision making, and problem solving. He will hypothesize, test, experiment. He will take pride in using his own ideas and seeing his own work- self confidence and self esteem boosted. All he will get out of a directed project is how to follow your directions, and the fine motor he will get either way; but also from the directed art he will have diminished self confidence because he will definitely not make his as good as yours. Also he'll miss out on all the decisions, testing, experiments, self expression, FUN, etc. Art should be done only for the process, not the product.

If the parents want viewable evidence of his artistic development, take photos while he plays with real art materials: paint, play doh, shaving cream, water with cornflour, scissors cutting strips. These artistic processes will provide nothing to keep, but take pictures. You can frame them and hang them or email, text or print and give the photos to parents. If you really want to teach following directions, try giving directions at other, non-creative times. For example: "Put your shoes on the bottom shelf and hang your hat on the peg there, thanks!" Etc...

I wanted to add that if he is alone with no other kids and you say 'go do art' or 'go do toys', I think, it makes sense that he doesn't want to do anything. It would be super lonely and boring. Granted children need to develop a sense of Independence and need some time to be on their own, not entertained by others. But, they also really need to be interacting a lot more than they need time alone. A lot more. I don't think you are ignoring him or leaving him alone all day, but I can see why he isn't doing anything. Children always want a toy that is 'in play', right? As you have it now, there is never a toy 'in play'. They don't care about the baby stroller that's been sitting there all morning until someone makes it interesting by playing with it, then EVERYBODY wants that stroller! Then they have conflict, communication, problem solving, resolving, turn taking, waiting a turn, etc. That's how they develop in all the ways they need to. And when they do develop all those ways thru organic interactions, they learn the cognitive skills necessary to follow directions, etc. They don't need instruction, lessons, table time, circle time, group time, yoga, Spanish, crafts or math time to learn it. They learn it from.....play!!!! If you read all that, thank you! Off my 'play' soap box for today Calcare

YES YES A thousand times YES

[Thriftylady]

Well this is spring break so the girls are here they are kindy and first grade and crafts if their favorite thing to do here, besides field trips. So we will be doing some art projects. We are doing the toilet paper tube bunnies. I have cut strips of upholstery samples for them to glue around the tubes, I precut some in ear shapes and have goggliy eyes and cotton balls to glue on. So I will show show it to them then tell/show them what I did and let them go to town.


They will want more art time than that. So they will probably get my "creative" box. Which is pipe cleaners, ribbon, stickers, yarn, foam shapes and letters, etc and some paper and glue and tape. That always keeps them happy for awhile also.

[Thriftylady]

So today we did the two art projects. The one where we made a project. He did do better with the SA kids here, to model the process for him. The afternoon art, I printed off Easter egg shapes for them to decorate and cut out. Gave them all the normal stuff, stickers, pom poms, ribbon, yarn whatever. I was impressed when he cut out the shape of his egg he did great with cutting. I did have to show him again how to hold the scissors properly. And then he wrote his own name on the back. We have worked hard on that! Of course it was written the way a kiddo that turns five tomorrow writes his name, but that is how it is supposed to be!