Open-ended art is defined as art activity where children are free to use their imagination as they explore a variety of materials without a planned outcome. When teachers embrace open-ended art, they emphasize the process of creating, and observe the developmental growth being experienced by the children. Open-ended art provides children an important opportunity to think about, feel, and express ideas. It helps teachers slow down the pace of the activity in order to observe and feel the environment all around. There are many books available to educators that include art ideas and projects, but Open-Ended Art for Young Children goes beyond the basics to highlight why the field of early childhood education advocates for open-ended art, and explain how to adapt to new ways of thinking about art. Authors Dr. Tracy Galuski and Dr. Mary Ellen Bardsley present, chapter by chapter, the challenges teachers encounter when faced with best practices and expectations related art process and product. Each chapter begins with a classroom vignette that describes the challenge, followed by a plethora of solutions, grounded in research and illustrated through practical examples. Each chapter includes full color pictures and photos, and ends with an activity or investigation for reflection.

Bring out your child’s creativity and imagination with more than 60 artful activities in this completely revised and updated edition Art making is a wonderful way for young children to tap into their imagination, deepen their creativity, and explore new materials, all while strengthening their fine motor skills and developing self-confidence. The Artful Parent has all the tools and information you need to encourage creative activities for ages one to eight. From setting up a studio space in your home to finding the best art materials for children, this book gives you all the information you need to get started. You’ll learn how to: * Pick the best materials for your child’s age and learn to make your very own * Prepare art activities to ease children through transitions, engage the most energetic of kids, entertain small groups, and more * Encourage artful living through everyday activities * Foster a love of creativity in your family

75 toddler-and-two art adventures from one of America's bestselling children's art authors.

Art Teacherin' 101 is a book for all elementary art teachers, new and seasoned, to learn all things art teacherin' from classroom management, to taming the kindergarten beast, landing that dream job, taking on a student-teacher, setting up an art room and beyond. It's author, Cassie Stephens, has been an elementary art teacher for over 22 years and shares all that she's learned as an art educator. Art teachers, home school parents and classroom teachers alike will find tried and true ways to make art and creating a magical experience for the young artists in their life.

Art Workshop for Children is not just another book of straightforward art projects. The book's unique child-led approach provides a framework for cultivating creative thinking and encourages the wonder that comes when children are allowed to freely explore the creative process and their materials. As children work through these open-ended workshops, adults are guided on how to be facilitators who provide questions, encourage deep thinking, and help spark an excitement for discovery. Children explore basic materials and workshops that use minimal supplies, and then gradually add new materials to fill the art cabinets as well as new skills and more complex workshops. Most workshops are suitable to preschool-aged children, and each contains ideas for explorations and new twists to engage older or more experienced artists. Interspersed throughout are sidebar essays that introduce perspectives on mess-making, imperfection, the role of adult, collaborative art, and thoughts on the Reggio Emilia method, a self-guided teaching philosophy. These pieces underscore the value of art-making with children, and support the parent/teacher/care-giver on how to successfully lead, question, and navigate their children through the workshops to result in the fullest experiences.

Over 200 activities encourage children to explore and understand their world through art experiences that emphasize the process of art, not the product. The first chapter introduces basic art activities appropriate for all children, while the subsequent chapters, which build on the basic activities in the first chapter, are divided by seasons. Activities are included for painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, and construction. Indexes organized by art medium and project name help teachers plan. 260 pages. - Benjamin Franklin Award - Early Childhood News Director's Award "Preschool Art" is a lifesaver . . . All the activities are easy, all are fun--the emphasis here is on the process, rather than specific results--and none require any elaborate materials . . . a real find.--"Sesame Street Parents," "Picks for Parents" ""Preschool Art" offers help to parents of preschoolers struggling to meet the challenge of their children's creative impulses. Prodigies aside, most kids this age aren't interested in the final product; they are into the doing of art . . . . There is no right or wrong way, only their way. Kohl understands. She explains how to make and use many kinds of art materials based on the concept that the process not the product, is important. From old standbys like play dough to new craft discoveries like liquid crayons and frozen balloons, she provides hundreds of ways to enjoy and explore the creative process."--"MetroParent," Milwaukee, Wisconsin "Kohl offers 250 projects complete with materials, processes and illustrated variations. She also adds practical hints that troubleshoot anticipated problems. The recipes are valuable well beyond the preschool years."--"SchoolArts" Other art books by MaryAnn Kohl: "The Big Messy Art Book" (Gryphon House), 0-87659-206-X "Cooking Art" (Gryphon House), 0-87659-184-5 "Global Art" (Gryphon House), 0-87659-190-X

Use loose parts to spark children's creativity and innovation Loose parts are natural or synthetic found, bought, or upcycled materials that children can move, manipulate, control, and change within their play. Alluring and captivating, they capture children's curiosity, give free reign to their imagination, and motivate learning. The hundreds of inspiring photographs showcase an array of loose parts in real early childhood settings. And the overviews of concepts children can learn when using loose parts provide the foundation for incorporating loose parts into your teaching to enhance play and empower children. The possibilities are truly endless.