The Preschool Times

Each spring as the weather begins to return to its warm, sumptuous generosity, we are blessed with new growth and beauty. Inspired by the beauty of nature, we set out to try our hand at duplicating and creating some beauty of our own!

Across the school, classrooms are humming with activity.  Each class is laden with an abundance of raw art materials waiting patiently to be turned into a masterpiece. Hands: drip with finger-paints, cake with clay, clench hammers, and pound wood, as each new creation begins to take form.  There is no more colorful place than a classroom of preschoolers set free with their imaginations. After a year filled with experiences which demonstrated each medium’s varied capabilities, they are ready to strike out on their own. Some children are creating hats inspired by the Hat Parade, others are busily working on their own interpretation of the solar system (don’t ask what started that project!), while still others are painting the background of a bean bag toss game.

Classrooms are alive with language as the children describe what they are doing and problem solving when something doesn’t work out as intended. Some are frustrated with a negative turn of events while others embrace the mistake and incorporate it into their piece. Watching the children create gives me some insight into their self concept as well as their problem solving skills. Children who are confident will often continue with a project even when they face difficulty, while those who are still unsure of themselves will often abandon a project when adversity strikes and still others will just live with their mistakes. Teachers can help by demonstrating appropriate problem solving skills that they then can apply to their creations. The more problem solving skills the children are familiar with the greater their successes.

Creating our own piece of art is like creating our own life. We are all given materials to work with; some will create a safe and orderly life while others will create a more abstract experience. The more problem solving skills you have in your arsenal the better able you will be to deal with an adverse condition when it presents itself. It takes confidence to build a life you can be proud of.

So, as my little preschoolers prepare their works of art for display and their teachers help label their work, I will see more then the pretty colors and the precariously balanced building. I will see their lives unfolding.

Peace & Light,

Grace

"The Mona Lisa"