What comes to mind when you think of preschool and toddler art activities? Macaroni collages in the shape of a heart? Cute little handprint turkeys or thumbprint flowers? Pre-cut animals glued onto a barn?
There is nothing wrong with any of these craft projects, but they all have one thing in common: The focus is squarely on the result, and it’s a predetermined result. An adult has concocted a cute art project that might be a little bit fun for the kids and will surely be loved by their parents, but there isn’t a lot of room for drawing outside the lines.
The thing is, from the children’s perspective, the important part of art is the process, not the product.
While you will certainly see children who care deeply about the result of their efforts and get super frustrated when their drawing isn’t recognizable, most young children simply want to experience creating art. They want to feel…
