Process art is an approach to art-making that emphasizes the creative process rather than the end result. In early childhood education and care, process art can have many benefits for young children, including:
- Encouraging creativity: Process art allows children to experiment with different materials, colours, and textures, and encourages them to express themselves in their own unique way.
- Building fine motor skills: in process-oriented art, the act of painting, drawing, and manipulating materials is more important than the product; it can help develop a child’s fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity.
- Fostering independence and a sense of agency: Process art allows children to explore their own ideas and make their own choices, which can help build their confidence and independence.
- Developing problem-solving skills: When children engage in process art, they are often faced with challenges and obstacles that require problem-solving skills and critical thinking.
- Enhancing sensory awareness: A lot of children may manifest sensory processing disorders early on. Exposing them to a lot of new sensory experiences can be very helpful. Process art can engage all of the senses, from the feel of the materials to the smell of the paint, which can enhance a child’s sensory awareness and help them understand the world around them.
- Building social skills: When children work on art projects together, they learn to collaborate, share materials, and communicate their ideas, which can help build their social skills and foster a sense of community.
Here are some examples of process art I have done with children.
What are your favourite process art experiences and tools?
And more examples on my FB book page
