Team Talk

Where Little Artists Can Live Their Life To The Fullest | Career

An Art Project in Banyo

 

 

Paper, all kinds of cardboard, you can be artistic on many bases. The little ones from Toddler One in Banyo (15-24 months) already know that.
But having their own white canvas is something special – they seem to feel that right away.
Demi is thrilled: I have a fantastic team, creative, passionate and full of good ideas, which they then implement with great joy. What more could a lead educator ask for? By fantastic idea generators, she means Kaitlyn, an educator in Toddler 1. and her idea to create an art project.

 

The artist is present


In fact, they could almost charge visitors for their space because it looks like a museum. But at the eye level of the main actors in the room, they are also very proud of their works.
Kaitlyn tells us that she likes to paint in her spare time, so an art project was an obvious choice for her.
However, and Kaitlyn admits this with a smile, Jemma from Nursery also contributed to this project as inspiration. But because everyone here sees themselves as a big team, this creative loan is, of course, welcome, and the realisation is quite different in this age group anyway.
Whenever one of the children from the Nursery moves up to Toddler One, a big setting is set up. Here, the full range is used: or at least full buckets of paint. All colours are available for free choice, and the artists are also free to choose their own tools. Cotton tips, rollers, blocks, sponges, cutters, or, also very popular with the extra sensory component, their own hands.


A project made for Journey:
Connection & Communication


And then it’s: what’s allowed is what pleases. And that’s a lot! The children live their lives to the full here, take their time and the result is always individual and unique.
Not only do the children enjoy the calm, relaxed atmosphere and attention in this one-to-one setting, it also contributes to the bond between educator and child. It is an absolutely positive experience where the child is once again at the centre of everything.
The children, says Kaitlyn, are also very proud of their work, and the fact that it is exhibited for the year with their photo underneath gives them a sense of belonging.
And the communicative aspect should not be underestimated either. Kaitlyn uses the creation of the works in Storypark as a story that she shares with her parents. This way, they are also involved at the same time. And while otherwise, many works disappear quite quickly in a folder that is only handed over to the parents at the end of the year; these canvases are always present. So they are often used by parents during drop off or pick up as a starting point for conversations with the children. Like, “Is this your picture? Did you do that all by yourself? And is that your friend’s picture?
And it doesn’t stop there. Without this project, it would probably not have come to a conversation with parents who report that the grandfather of one of the little painters is actually an artist.

 

A quick look at the current state of studies

on the benefits of being creative

 

  • Studies have shown that creative activities can improve a toddler’s cognitive abilities, including language development and spatial reasoning skills. For example, a study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that engaging in creative activities, such as drawing and painting, was associated with improved language development in toddlers.
  • Creativity also plays a key role in emotional development, as it allows toddlers to express their feelings and thoughts in a safe and non-judgmental way. A study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology found that toddlers who participated in creative activities, such as storytelling and role-playing, were better able to regulate their emotions and cope with stress.
  • Furthermore, creative activities can also foster social skills and promote positive interactions with others. For example, a study published in Early Childhood Research Quarterly found that toddlers who engaged in creative activities with their peers were more likely to engage in cooperative play and to share with others.
  • In summary, allowing toddlers to be creative can have numerous benefits for their cognitive, emotional, and social development. Encouraging creative activities such as drawing, painting, storytelling, and building can help foster important skills and abilities that will serve them well throughout their lives.

 

If you now feel like letting brushes and other things glide over the canvases, Kaitlyn will be happy to give you some tips.

Thanks for the insight into your project, Kaitlyn!

 

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