Sensory art experience for toddler and how it helps

brainartadmin — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 17:26:45 +0000

Previous article we spoke about why sensory art is important for toddlers ? Things to avoid and appropriate sensory art material and experiences for Toddlers.
Messy art is fun and provides delightful way of learning about the world and its physical properties. If not all, but most of children like to get their hands into paint and other slimy / gooey material that “tickle there sense”. This program lets child to discover the emotional pleasure of sensory. What more ? Development of cognitive, social-emotional and multi-sensory skills.

What exactly is the messy art / sensory art ? – Is it simple finger printing ? or sand printing ? It’s lot more actually. Friendly description is that involve paint and other fluid materials that changes the ease as you manipulate them. These fluid experiences provide children with exiting physical contacts and motivation to explore. Fluid nature paints provide dynamic and rapid changing exploration of colors, shapes and texture.

It is important to remember that toddler’s art is about the process and exploration and not the end result of the artwork.

One of the best way to promote early childhood learning through art. Hands-on and self-directed learning is given special importance in pre-schools and kindergarten. Art teaches critical thinking, self-expression, problem solving, creativity and self-esteem.

Sensory Art How to start ?

Creating a productive time for your child of any age to engage the with sensory art / play is domineering for their long-time learning. It is very simple by taking simple object that you already have in house. You can create many fun activities for your child.

For example, take a Spaghetti noodles & pipe cleaner or juice straw and challenge your child to put noodles in hole. This activity experience will help them to develop fine motor and problem solving skills, when they break the spaghetti noodles.

Here are the few activities that are on our list for toddlers :

How art helps developing fine motor skills in children

brainartadmin — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 09:05:35 +0000

Using scissors to cut the papers in some shape or tearing paper is a amazing fine motor activity for kids. These activities require strength and endurance of the small muscles in the hand. These intrinsic muscles are important in so many fine motor skills.

What is Fine Motor Skills ?

The opening and closing motion of cutting with scissors or tearing papers in numerous shapes helps kids develop the little muscles in their hands otherwise referred to as fine motor skills. These muscles are crucial for holding a pencil or crayons and gripping and manipulating objects. When paper is torn or cut with scissors, the hands assume a great tripod grasp which is effective and a mature grasp for writing and colouring. The non-dominant hand is assisting in the tearing and encourages appropriate assistance for tasks like holding the paper while writing, and managing paper while cutting with scissors.

Little hands need to develop dexterity and strength. We, as parents or caregivers, can help this process by encouraging children to play, explore and interact with a variety of items. Toys, clothing fasteners, safe scissors and play dough are all tactile examples of practices that facilitate fine motor development.

These Art activities actively engage toddler’s creativity & imagination through colors, shapes and patterns.

What abilities does these activities develop?

What abilities does these activities develop?
Use the hands together in a leading and helping way. The leading hand holds the scissors & makes cutting movements, the helping hand holds & manoeuvres the paper.
Isolate or combine movements of the thumb, index and middle fingers, and to keep these fingers moving separately from the ring and little fingers.
Coordinate arm, hand and eye movements towards an end goal
Keep the joints in the wrist, elbow and shoulder stable, so that the scissors can be well controlled. Balance, seating and joint stability all contribute to this. Joint stability can be related to strength