Nursery World - Young expressionists

The best way to encourage under-threes to enjoy art is to keep your hands out of it, says Jennie Lindon Watch any toddler squishing some modelling dough or wielding a paintbrush and it is obvious how much they enjoy getting directly involved in arts and crafts activities. You do not have to work hard to encourage young children to get their hands into the paint or to go for some early mark-making with a thick crayon or chalk. The only exception is if under-threes have been given very firm messages within their family about not getting 'messy' or 'dirty'. Otherwise the main issue for children's enjoyment and learning is that adults do not get over-involved and direct the activity so much that children have no scope for creativity.

Watch any toddler squishing some modelling dough or wielding a paintbrush and it is obvious how much they enjoy getting directly involved in arts and crafts activities. You do not have to work hard to encourage young children to get their hands into the paint or to go for some early mark-making with a thick crayon or chalk. The only exception is if under-threes have been given very firm messages within their family about not getting 'messy' or 'dirty'. Otherwise the main issue for children's enjoyment and learning is that adults do not get over-involved and direct the activity so much that children have no scope for creativity.

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