USING CRAFTS TO YOUR BEST ADVANTAGE

When doing art and craft projects with day care children, our mission statement is “Arts and crafts are fun.” Good policy to have is that you will not do more than you are capable of handling because you want to have fun too. You also want the children to have fun and do the project by themselves. I suggest you praise each child and rejoice with them in their accomplishments.”

THE VALUE OF DOING ART AND CRAFT PROJECTS WITH THE CHILDREN

1. Develop eye hand coordination

2. Develop communication skills. Builds vocabulary through the use of descriptive words which help children to articulate clearly. Enables children to explain to their parents what they are learning in day care.

3. Helps to develop attention skills.

4. Teaches math skills, numbers, sequencing, the understanding of parts and wholes and how they relate to each other.

5. Teaches children to break tasks down into small sequential steps rather than looking at a whole job which appears overwhelming.

6. Builds self-esteem in children when parents show pride in their work.

7. Teaches freedom of expression.

8. Experience different art mediums.

The provider has the opportunity to:

1. Observe and evaluate the child’s understanding and skill level as it relates to the tasks being worked on.

2. Attend to other jobs as needed.

3. Learn new ideas and concepts form the children while engaged in their projects.

4. Listen closely and learn what each child is interested in or is thinking.

5. Have a wonderful opportunity to help in the growth of each child to become a unique person.