| The importance of early childhood arts education | | | | drawing, and role-playing. Studies have shown that |
| has received increased attention in recent years. | | | | the arts engage all the senses. When caregivers |
| Although this is good news, the majority of | | | | engage and encourage children in arts activities on |
| funding is directed to grades K-12, with preschools | | | | a regular basis from early in life, they are laying |
| being largely left out. | | | | the foundation for, and even helping wire children's |
| To offset the potential lack of arts and crafts | | | | brains for successful learning. When you allow |
| education at your child's preschool; you can | | | | your child to express themselves creatively they |
| incorporate art into your daily routine at home. | | | | will achieve a sense of accomplishment. |
| Keep a variety of inexpensive art materials | | | | An example of an educational preschool easy |
| available. Crayons, finger paint, paint brushes and a | | | | craft is making a pipe cleaner bird feeder. |
| variety of paper is an inexpensive way to start. | | | | Pipe Cleaner Bird Feeder |
| Many household items, such as string, sponges, | | | | Stringing the cereal onto the pipe cleaners allows |
| coffee filters and food items can also be | | | | young children to practice their fine motor skills. |
| incorporated into art activities. Art in early | | | | What you need: |
| childhood education programs is an essential | | | | - Pipe cleaner |
| building block of development and bridges learning | | | | - Cheerios (or similar) |
| with other subject areas. | | | | Directions: Make a loop at one end of the pipe |
| The first and easiest step to remember is: be | | | | cleaner. Thread cereal on to the pipe cleaner. |
| creative! Spontaneous creative play, is what | | | | Leave enough space to make another loop. Hang |
| young children naturally do-singing, dancing, | | | | the feeder anywhere outside. |