Nursery World - Another look at art

I think that rather than calling the eight-page pull-out 'All About Painting and Drawing' (7 March), a good name for it would have been 'Art Torture for Tots'. What age group is the author of this pull-out referring to? There is an appropriate time for all the activities mentioned, which should be provided in sequence according to each child's stage of experience and development - but only after the children have experimented on their own and tried everything for themselves. If not, then the result in years to come will be more adults (and many of them will be childcarers) who say, 'I cannot paint and/or draw.'

What age group is the author of this pull-out referring to? There is an appropriate time for all the activities mentioned, which should be provided in sequence according to each child's stage of experience and development - but only after the children have experimented on their own and tried everything for themselves. If not, then the result in years to come will be more adults (and many of them will be childcarers) who say, 'I cannot paint and/or draw.'

The only two points I wholeheartedly support are the first and third ones under the heading 'Theory into practice' on page 16. And may I say to childcarers: stop talking and asking open-ended questions - listen to the children, think about their comments and let them lead the way. Then, and only then, give tentative answers. Remember you are only an adult and have limited vision - you are too tall - and you lack a toddler's powers of concentration.

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