Art has the role in education of helping children become like themselves instead of more like everyone else.
– Sydney Gurewitz Clemens, early childhood education consultant

Many of us recall our early art experiences, some joyful and liberating, others confined by templates and rigid expectations. “Art happens when we use materials in new and purposeful ways to create something. It isn’t really art if the intention is to churn out work for families or to hang on bulletin boards,” write Sara Bloomberg and Lisa Porter Kuh in their Exchange magazine article, “Beyond the Easel: Supporting Artistic Expression, Independence, and Creativity.” Emphasizing the creative process over the final product allows children to explore, problem-solve, and innovate using their own ideas.

Creating a prepared art environment is key to supporting children’s artistic journeys, and encourages them to learn from each other and be inspired by their surroundings. “Art areas should be set up for children to choose their own materials. There are a few ways to do this. One is by having the materials available in a ‘gather here’ format. Children choose the materials they need to create something. This is a way to offer loose parts, materials for drawing and painting, and things like glue, scissors, and tape that children might need. Simple plastic baskets that are easy to source are great and having them be all one color means the materials are the focal point.”

By prioritizing process over product and creating thoughtfully prepared environments, we can help children develop not only as artists but as innovative, confident learners. This approach celebrates every child’s unique artistic journey and helps to foster a lifelong love for creative expression.