Artistic Development“The teacher who knows the difference between adult and child world views is

likely to communicate and educate more successfully than one not so prepared.”

—David Elkind (1974, p. 134)

Children of these ages are:

• Learning through play

• Developing control over their bodies

• Curious

• Have short attention spans

• Unique

How Do Children Develop in the Arts?

Developmentally Appropriate Practice [DAP]

DAP asks:Is this activity appropriate

for children of this age?

Is this activity appropriate for this particular child at this particular time?

Normative Development

Is this activity appropriate for children of this age?

Infant – Birth to 12monthsToddler – 12 months to 2yearsPreschooler – 3 to 5 yearKindergartener – 5 & 6 yearsPrimary – 6 to 8 years

Normative Development: Music

• Infant• Toddler• Preschooler• Kindergartener• Primary

Normative Development: Creative Movement

• Infant• Toddler• Preschooler• Kindergartener• Primary

Normative Development: Drama

InfantToddlerPreschoolerKindergartenerPrimary

Normative Development: Visual Arts

InfantToddlerPreschoolerKindergartener Primary

Factors Affecting Artistic Production

Physical Development

Emotional State

Social

Behavior

Intellectual Development

Child’s Creative

Work

Peer and Adult

Reactions

Previous Experiences

Art Media

AcceptedCulture

Gardner’s Model of Cognitive Development

• Infancy to 18 months: Piaget’s sensorimotor stage

• 18 months to 2 years: Learn to use symbols

• 2 to 3 years: Spatial understanding develops

• 3 to 4 years: Numerical understanding develops

• 5 to 7 years: Invent notational systems

Multimedia Production Model

Mode 1: Random actions

Mode 2: Conscious control

Mode 3: Imitative

Mode 4: Symbol development

Mode 5: Cultural style

Mode 1

Mode 2

Mode 5

Mode 3

Mode 4

Drawing Begins with Scribbles

Placement Patterns

Graphic Symbol Development

Mandalas, suns, and people by children ages 2 to 5

Developmental Stages

Developmental Stages of Child Art, Based on Kellogg (1969) and Lowenfeld and Brittain (1987)

Infancy to Age 2½ Random Scribbling

2½ to 3 Controlled Scribbling

3 to 4½ Named Scribbling

4½ to 7 Preschematic

How Do We Select Developmentally Appropriate Arts Activities?

A successful arts educator:• Sets realistic expectations

• Values process over product

• Understands factors affecting child

• Selects activities that every child can do successfully

Assessing Artistic Growth

Observation Tools• Checklists

• Anecdotal records

Real records• Photographs and

videos

• Portfolios

Portfolio Contents

Work samples Checklists

Photographs and videos

Interviews

Audiotapes Attitude surveys

Anecdotal notesProcess folio

selections

Evaluating Children’s Arts Process

Studying a single artwork or performance can be another way to gain more insight into the child’s arts process.

Step 1: Describe what you see.Step 2: Compare it to normative levels or the

child’s previous work.Step 3: Write a summary.

Writing a SummaryThis is a tempera painting by a three-year-old girl named Katie.

The child called it “My Rainbow”How would you describe it?

Interacting with Families

• Portfolio sharing

• Talking together

• Art happenings

• Letters and newsletters

• Pamphlets

• Activity ideas

• Surveys

Self-Assessment

The purpose of self-assessment is to grow as a teacher of the arts. Use

Checklists

Student feedback

Notebook

Journal

“Terrific” Me folder

Learn more about the child artist.

•The Brain Connection: http://www.brainconnection.com/topics/?main=fa/child-brain•Child Development Institute: http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/•Child Development & Early Childhood Development Advice: http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopmenttracker/

Conclusion: The Child Artist

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