Provide a wide variety of interesting
materials and choices
Add new materials weekly, incorporating
your theme if possible
Never tell a child what to create
Emphasize the process, not the end product
Don’t ask "What is it?"; Say "Tell me
about it"
Ask the child if and where he/she would
like his name put
Let children explore materials
Let children come up with their own ideas
and use materials creatively
Provide materials for 3-D and on-going
artwork projects
Encourage, do not force participation
Do not do models or samples for the
children
Throw away any colorbooks or dittos in the
room
All materials should be at the children’s
level, and accessible
Playdough and the art easel should be open
the majority of each day
Encourage children to express feelings and
personal experiences through art
Display art in a variety of ways – it
should not all ‘match’
Talk about texture, color, smell, shape,
etc and the experience
Let the children be as independent as
possible, and encourage self-help skills and
responsibility in cleaning up art
Educate parents as to the value and
learning in open-ended art
Teach and model appropriate use and
respect of materials
Allow ample time for children to create
and explore
Incorporate books on fine art in your
classroom
Children should be doing their own cutting
– it’s okay if a circle doesn’t remotely
resemble a circle yet. This is how they develop these
fine muscles – and makes it ‘their’ work
and experience.
There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’
way, or end product.
The art area should have lots and lots of
a variety of different collage materials, and always be
an open, available choice for children
