Whether you have your own or have worked with kids at a day care in Silver Spring, MD, you already know just how curious they are. As soon as they can move their arms and legs, they try to get out into the world to see how things work. They explore, observe, and imitate, trying to figure out how things work and how to control themselves and their environments. This free exploration helps children learn and make links in their brains. It’s also fun.
Art is a normal thing for kids to do that helps them play freely. The freedom to play with different objects in a natural, unplanned way makes exploring and trying out new things possible. These creative projects and self-guided adventures are fun and teach you something. Exploring different art mediums gives young people a chance to practice a wide range of skills that are useful in life and help them learn.
When children can experience making decisions and expressing themselves without worrying about whether or not there is a “right” response, they are able to flourish. Through art, one can learn to have confidence in oneself and effectively communicate one’s thoughts and emotions.
When it comes to their vision and aspirations, there is neither a good nor a bad to be concerned about, in contrast to schoolwork. There may be some guidelines, such as “Paint only on the canvas,” but other than that, the final product is entirely up to them to decide. The more opportunities kids have to express themselves freely, the more assured they will feel in themselves. They can pick up new art terminology along the way, another fantastic opportunity to strengthen their language skills.
An art project starts with a creative idea and allows kids to use their imaginations. It also helps them think more logically. You’ve probably heard of the right or left brain idea, which has been questioned in some ways. The idea behind this is artistic people used their right-brain because the right side is more visual and artistic, while the left is more verbal, logical, and focused on details.
The truth is that both sides work together and allow kids to explore different art mediums, allowing them to be as creative as they wish from the start to the end of the project. By allowing them to use different mediums, they can learn to solve any problems they might run into with their project, all while having fun.
Letting kids try different kinds of art is also good because it helps them improve their memory and learn about self-control. Children naturally work on self-discipline when they make a piece of art. If they want their picture to look like unicorns or a space explorer, they can’t just use any color or style they want. If they have to paint from memory, they will work on remembering pictures. And if they watch a video teacher or a teacher in person, they will practice remembering and following directions.
Kids with good visual-spatial skills can figure out where things are in space. They are the same skills that let them copy dance moves they see online, hit a baseball, draw letters and shapes, or get through a maze.
Creating art in various mediums is a great way for kids to improve at these things. Has your child or one of their classmates ever tried to draw a picture of their favorite person, place, or thing? Say they want to make a picture of their dog. When kids think about their dog’s size, shape, color, and weight and try to draw it, they do a lot of visual-spatial thinking without even realizing it.
Most kids being developing their fine motor skills at home or at a day care in Silver Spring, MD, when they are very young by playing with how to hold and move a pencil. Getting creative is a fun and easy way to change things up and improve your fine motor skills.
Think about art as an example. Paintbrushes are held like pens, but the strokes aren’t as precise, and the end result is a lot more fun than writing down vocabulary words. Painting helps kids learn to use their hands and eyes together as they try to copy the teacher’s lines, shapes, directions, and patterns or make up their own.
Art projects are a great way for young children to learn to read and write, as well as to listen and understand. When kids make art or projects, they can talk about what they did, which helps them learn how to talk to other people. They learn new words from their parents and use their listening skills when they follow speaking instructions. A skill that all parents want their kids to learn as soon as possible so they will listen to them.
Creativity, such as sketching, sculpting with clay, or producing noodle art, activates the reward regions in the brain. Your young artist may be doing any of these creative activities. This implies that engaging in activities related to arts and crafts helps young people feel good about themselves and assists them in relaxing naturally. They leave with a feeling of having accomplished something and the inspiration to continue being creative in the future.
One of the great things about allowing kids to explore different art mediums at day care in Silver Spring, MD, is that it introduces them to everything the art world offers. Children can appreciate visual arts from various countries and historical periods without needing any specialized training.
Kids who begin creating their own art are inevitably intrigued and enthusiastic about other people’s work, especially if it is in a familiar form, medium, or theme. Children benefit from the creative process by developing a lifelong love of the arts and culture, which is essential for making friends. Studies have found that children who participated in art programs were more likely to be sympathetic and open-minded.
MCCA has been recognized by the Maryland State Legislature for its commitment to Montgomery County issued a quality programs and special needs child care Proclamation in 2016 to MCCA for its commitment to Montgomery County child care for more than 50 years. MCCA was also selected as a 2018 nonprofit finalist for a MOXIE Award for boldness and innovation
MCCA is the oldest nonprofit licensed child care provider in Montgomery County and started its work in 1968 as a Community Action Project of the War on Poverty. Recognizing the need for quality child care programs in their neighborhoods, a group of local activists formed an association to establish centers in Montgomery County that would serve a diverse population and establish high standards for child care. Now, more than 50 years later, MCCA’s dedicated and expertly trained staff continue their tradition of providing high quality child care and play-based education for children.
Families with school aged children who can afford their child care expenses during the school year often struggle to afford the all-day programs they need when school is out for the summer. The Richard Krampf Summer Adventures Scholarship Fund was established to help provide children a safe and stimulating place to spend their weeks when school is out. Please contact an MCCA Director for details on how to apply.
