Process Art for Babies and Toddlers Explained
What is process-based art?
For babies through kindergartners, process art looks like play.
However, there is intention in the play. When people think of play-based art, many times messy comes to mind—Paints on the furniture, glue stuck to hair, bits of paper and beads all over the house, dried out playdough, sensory bins filled with rice flying everywhere. With two kids I’ve been there! We once had a water bead explosion in our house that took days to clean up. Even months later I would still find dried up little water beads hiding under the couch. But there is intention in that mess!
Process art for kids is an approach to art-making that focuses on the creative process rather than the final product. In process art, the emphasis is placed on exploration, experimentation, and self-expression, rather than achieving a specific outcome or following step-by-step instructions.
What does play-based art look like?
During our sessions there will be various “invitations to play”—carefully curated art stations meant to engage.
One table might have red, and yellow playdough and beads. It is then up to the child to choose how to use those materials. One child might choose to make a sculpture of a cat, another might try mixing the two colors of clay together to create orange. While another child might make a ball of clay and hide beads inside, another might flatten the playdough and make a pizza with bead toppings, yet another might make a rainbow bead mosaic…as you can see, the options are endless with only two materials! But the best part is that the child decides what to do. This builds autonomy, independence and confidence because their creation is authentically theirs.
What is the benefits of this kind of art?
Creativity and Self-Expression: Play-based art encourages babies and toddlers to explore their creativity and express themselves freely without judgement or expectation.
Motor Skills Development: Painting, sculpting and sensory activities allow babies and toddlers to develop their fine motor skills. Holding crayons, manipulating playdough, and using paintbrushes require eye coordination and dexterity, which are crucial for later tasks like writing and self-care activities.
Cognitive Growth: As toddlers and babies engage with different textures, colors and materials it stimulates senses to develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. This exploration stimulates also their visual perception and helps them understand concepts such as size, shape, and spatial relationships.
Problem-Solving Skills: Play-based art encourages toddlers to think critically and creatively to solve problems they encounter during the creative process. Whether it's figuring out how to attach two pieces together or selecting the right colors to represent an object, toddlers develop problem-solving skills by using trial and error.
It brings Joy: Having the independence and freedom to express themselves, the sense of accomplishment in a piece of art and sharing that accomplishment with the people they love brings happiness and connection.