Art in Early Years Education allows students to explore and understand the world around them in an extraordinary way, serving as a more complete and meaningful form of learning.
At Yago School, we want to show you why the development in this area is so important for young children. Furthermore, we would like you to discover some activities that you can do with your children at home.
Art in Early Years Education: An Indispensable Tool
Art in Early Years is not only a subject that can be incorporated into the curriculum, but it is also an indispensable tool for children, their development, and the relationships they establish with their classmates in the classroom.
This subject includes the creation of paintings, sculptures, or drawings, as well as engaging in activities related to theatre and dance, among others. Its aim is to foster creativity and sensitivity to the arts.
The Importance of Art in Early Years Education
We can affirm that art is fundamental in Early Years due to the numerous benefits it offers. Therefore, at our private school, we are convinced that its incorporation is key to the optimal and appropriate development of children.
5 Benefits of Art in Early Years Education
At Yago School, we believe that Art in Early Years has five main benefits. These are cross-cutting and directly, and very positively, impact the development of young children. Pay attention to the following aspects:
Greater Sensitivity One of the most significant benefits is that art fosters sensitivity to different forms of expression and emotions. This helps children develop greater empathy and understanding of the world around them.
Improved Communication Art is also very positive for communication. Participating in artistic activities promotes both verbal and non-verbal communication skills, allowing students to express their thoughts more effectively.
Better Analytical Skills Analytical skills are another key benefit. Art teaches young children to interpret and analyse shapes, colours, and structures, strengthening critical thinking from an early age.
Improved Coordination The next benefit relates to improved coordination. Most art activities involve the use of hands, which helps enhance fine motor skills and manual abilities in children.
Greater Creativity Finally, art helps improve creativity in young children. Through this subject, they can experiment with different materials and develop solutions to the challenges they face.
How to Work with Art in Early Years
Below, we will show you some examples of how we work with art in Early Years at Yago School.
Painting: Among painting activities, the most common ones are finger painting and creating group murals. The aim is to explore different colours and techniques to help children develop this skill.
Drawing: When it comes to drawing, creating simple comics in which children can express their feelings is also recommended, as well as doing collaborative drawings on large sheets of paper.
Sculpture (Clay or Modelling Dough): Common activities for sculpture involve creating figures or constructing landscapes and scenes to unleash creativity.
Theatre: To work on theatre, performances of well-known stories can be staged, small theatrical plays can be created, such as puppet theatres, and many mime activities can be carried out.
Dance: Dance is also a key element in Early Years. Simple choreographies, games to music, or free dances can help with body coordination.
Music: Finally, activities like singing children’s songs, exploring sounds with different instruments, or listening activities can be done.
Moreover, it is important that, whenever possible, these projects are collaborative. This is crucial, as working in teams allows young children to share ideas and respect their classmates. It is also highly recommended that the classrooms have a corner where each student can display their drawings, paintings, or sculptures and freely access the artistic resources of the school whenever they feel inspired. We believe that following these recommendations will lead to great results in this area.
In summary, integrating artistic activities, as mentioned, into Early Years Education not only contributes to the development of specific skills but also helps promote other aspects such as creativity, self-expression, and teamwork.
At Yago School, we believe that art is essential in education, even at an early age. Therefore, we encourage families to support us in this task and allow young children to be creative at home, as well as at school. We are confident that this development will be exceptional for their future, both professionally and personally. Now is the time to use your imagination!
