Coloring, paint with your hands, combining colors, touching different textures … Toddlers are often curious in nature and inclined to exploration. How to introduce them to art and what are the benefits for young children? Expert responses.
“”The notion of aesthetics is taking into account from an early age: “The aesthetic apparatus” (concept imagined by Sophie Fardet, doctoral student in art therapy) and her senses would even develop in utero, when the child hears sounds through his mother’s belly and he explores by touch for example. The view and the notion of “pleasure of the eyes”, on the other hand, are put in place from birth, even if the child already begins to distinguish the shadows and the different shades of light in his mother’s belly“, explains Irina Katz-Mazilu, art therapist and president of the French Federation of Art Therapy. And the more the child grows, the more he will perceive the different colors, the shades of brilliance and light (pale or darker tones, contrasts …) and all these shades will stimulate his imagination. Of curious nature, the Tourte likes to discover his environment Growing, touching and patronizing. But how to develop your creativity?
Why encourage him to be creative?
Artistic activities stimulate imagination, facilitate expression and above all “energize the creative processes of the child. The creative process is much more interesting than the end result“, Underlines Irina Katz-Mazilu. Concentration, sense of observation, rigor and patience are among the many benefits of artistic activities. Indeed,”From 1 or 2 years old, the child exercises to look, to reproduce and above all to interpret the world around him. He expresses his ideas by another language than speech and brings back what is in his unconscious while refocusing himself on himself“, Explains the art therapist. In addition, create things, imagine them, see them put in shape with his own hands bring him great self-confidence and promote surpassing oneself.
“”Initiate the child to the arts And helping him develop his creativity makes it possible to invent new languages and open the way to new learning“, Specifies Thomas Ulmann, creative director of the Act for early childhood association.”This also makes it possible to provide a framework, a structure and rules to the child: you can be very free and very creative while respecting others, their projects or the material“, bounces the art therapist. Art can also make them aware of The object/subject difference : It is quite possible to create a sculpture with wooden parts, then voluntarily demolish it, but it will be prohibited to launch these same wooden pieces on the head of another child, gives as an example the art therapist. Finally, artistic creation makes it possible to develop Fine motor skills And Movement coordination : The child learns to correctly keep tools and make more and more precise gestures.
Five benefits to remember:
|
How to stimulate your creativity?
- Accompany it at the beginning and little by little, let it create things by itself. Depending on his tastes, offer him, as soon as his age allows him, to paint, draw, make collages, sculpt, model, create a family game with family … If he is reluctant or lack of inspiration at the beginning, show him the example by offering him materials or painting. “”There is a certain complicity and a lot of sharing when you create something with the family for example“, Specifies Irina Katz-Mazilu.
- Initiate their child to art or offer him creative activities must be done playful and without constraint. Let it explore different techniques, test several supports, manipulate different tools, exceed by coloring or mirror. This is called “Creative transgression“” : The imagination of the child will allow him to give meaning to something a priori considered as an error. Thus, a red circle with a trait of felt that protrudes from the circle can become a radiant sun, a paint task, the body of an animal … concludes Irina Katz-Mazilu.
- Do not hesitate totake museums or exhibitionsand not necessarily in the places reserved for children. Depending on the theme, the duration of the visit, the workshops offered, awaken your child To different styles and different types of arts (painting, music, sculpture, photography …). From 2-3 years old, A toddler can be interested in everything he sees. Know that the Grévin museums, Palais de la Découverte, Cité des Sciences, National Museum of Natural History or the City of Music … can accommodate children from the age of 3-4 years. Some like the Center Pompidou (Paris) even have a gallery of children and offer interactive family routes from 2 years old. “”The child will rather be in a receptive approach, spectator of the art of others and will be able to perceive other artistic languages“, Specifies the art therapist.
- And why not register it for a plastic arts course? From 3 years oldfor modeling and painting and from 4 years for sculpture and pottery. The drawing is more suitable for 5-6 year olds, when the child is truly able to hold a pencil or a felt properly.
For what children?
Art and creation can contact everyone, but these activities are particularly beneficial for children:
- silent or backwho have difficulty expressing themselves or communicating verbally with others
- reserved or introvertedwho find it difficult to express their feelings or their emotions
- Distracts or agitatedwhich lack concentration and which find it difficult to channel their energy
Read also:
