Creative Arts as Part of the Curriculum
Literature Review For this literature review I will be critically analyzing different perspectives on the benefits of having creative/visual arts within the daily practice of an early childhood curriculum as well as the positive impact creative/visual arts can have on children’s development. While the creative art curriculum includes dance, drama, and music, I will be focusing on visual art such as painting, drawing and so on. I will also discuss how the Reggio Emilia approach reflects and supports a creative art curriculum for young children, as well as linking this to the New Zealand early childhood curriculum document, Te Whariki.
Firstly, what is a creative art within an early childhood education? Greek artist Dimitris Mytaras stated that art cannot be taught to young children, but it carries a message to them of freedom (Nikeltsos, 2007). Another aspect on what creative arts is, is not just about providing paints to the children, it is about providing children with an experience for creativity, which has a “big point of analytical and critical thinking and problem solving” (Geist, no date p.143). The creative arts is also about providing a wide range of experiences from paint, drawing markers, collage materials, clay, natural materials as well as resources used for modelling and construction (Swann, 2005). I feel that this statement is very true from my own practice and those who work around me. We have spent a great deal on improving our experience we provide in the creative art curriculum and have seen children taking more participation in art when a variety is offered. “Art is a dynamic and unifying activity, the process of drawing, painting and constructing is a complex one. The child brings together many different elements to his or her experience” (Nikeitsos, 2007 p.9). This means that art should not be made structured and teacher lead, but for children to be creative and free for children to express
1
Early Childhood Research 3 B311
Firstly, what is a creative art within an early childhood education? Greek artist Dimitris Mytaras stated that art cannot be taught to young children, but it carries a message to them of freedom (Nikeltsos, 2007). Another aspect on what creative arts is, is not just about providing paints to the children, it is about providing children with an experience for creativity, which has a “big point of analytical and critical thinking and problem solving” (Geist, no date p.143). The creative arts is also about providing a wide range of experiences from paint, drawing markers, collage materials, clay, natural materials as well as resources used for modelling and construction (Swann, 2005). I feel that this statement is very true from my own practice and those who work around me. We have spent a great deal on improving our experience we provide in the creative art curriculum and have seen children taking more participation in art when a variety is offered. “Art is a dynamic and unifying activity, the process of drawing, painting and constructing is a complex one. The child brings together many different elements to his or her experience” (Nikeitsos, 2007 p.9). This means that art should not be made structured and teacher lead, but for children to be creative and free for children to express
1
Early Childhood Research 3 B311