I didn't know at that place was the concept of process versus product in art. Embarking on my journeying with TigerKubz has likewise exposed me to broader child development concepts that are exciting, simply sometimes overwhelming.

In this postal service, I'm going to share with you the pros and cons of process and product art in the early childhood years.

Process vs. product – what's the deviation?

The easiest manner to explicate procedure vs. product fine art is to use Lego as an case. When we purchase a Lego set, your kid (or our inner child ?) is assault replicating the final product we see on the box. When we do this, we are focused on the finished issue being a sure way, aka, the product.

At present, allow'due south say nosotros have the same set of bricks, simply instead of following the manual, we start edifice. Nosotros don't even know what the finished event will be! But, we're fully embracing our inventiveness, imagination, and experimentation. The heaven'due south the limit. This is procedure art, aka being a Masterbuilder (Lego Picture reference).

It's not you…

When we search for craft online and on Pinterest, we typically come across production art. I'm sure you lot've heard the term, "Pinterest worthy". This is due to the search terms nosotros use such as "Apple tree crafts for preschoolers", "cute pumpkin themed crafts", "Valentine's Mean solar day crafts". They're generally product focused searches and nosotros have subconsciously prepare expectations for how the craft should await similar.

Parents who are not educators are typically focused on the product/outcome. I also recollect that our culture and workplace has trained our minds to focus on the outcome and not the process. But, what if I told y'all, that introducing "art" to immature children can be much simpler than the cutest project you see online?

What does process fine art look like in the early on childhood years?

Process art typically involves a predetermined ready of tools provided to children to work with. There are no directions except perchance to set boundaries fine art tools usage (due east.thousand., "paint goes on the paper, non the walls", "nosotros wearable a smock when we work with paint to go on our wearing apparel clean"). Children have full autonomy to create whatever their heart desires.

To the untrained eyes, process fine art does not look "testify worthy" during the early years – peculiarly the toddler years. This is because toddlers do not yet accept the physical control and development to manipulate tools as well as older kids. And certainly non as well as a mature adult. This is obvious right? Merely, we still expect young children to create these wonderful beautiful pieces of fine art. Why? Because we're proud parents who are eager to hang our children's artwork all over the fridge and home. There'southward no shame in that!

To really embrace procedure art, information technology helps by understanding fine art development stages in toddlers and preschoolers. When nosotros sympathize, we're more informed and sensitive to what our children are producing.

As an example, a scribble our child produces is much more than simply a "scribble". It's the get-go step to cartoon intentional shapes that will eventually turn into something recognizable. That is a frame worthy milestone!

A child mixing paint colors is exploring the scientific discipline of colour combination. Equally a event, they'll quickly acquire that mixing ALL the colors turns blackness. That kid just created a new colour they didn't have on their palette! Whoa!

Why do y'all want your child to do fine art?

To determine what type of art you want your kid to do, commencement, step dorsum and call back almost what the main goal is for doing fine art with your child. Are yous creating a cute artwork to send to grandma for Mother'south Solar day (product)? Or, are you trying to assistance your child embrace the creative procedure of fine art (procedure)? They have two very distinct outcomes.

Pros and cons of product art versus process art.

Early childhood educators were trained never to touch children's artwork. This is to respect children's artistic process and choices regardless of whether it met our "expectations". Now, I'll admit that I accept in the past interfered (severely) with my child'due south procedure. "The center doesn't go at that place". "Why don't you paint a bloom". "The house needs a door". "It doesn't wait similar the model". Yikes, I know.

Simply, I've given myself grace, considering now I'm more informed and I'thousand hither to pass on the knowledge with y'all. If you lot've been more production oriented too, don't fret. There are pros to exposing your kid to production-based art.

Pros Cons
Process Art Encourages child to use their creativity and freewill.
Encourages experimentation and self-direction.
Increases child'south self-esteem.
Consequence is 100% original and is your kid's piece of work.
It volition always exist developmentally appropriate because it's at the child's own pace and capability.		 Caregivers may not understand the art.
Children who struggle with creativity or fine motor skills may terminate their project early on.
Product Fine art Expose kid to new art processes.
Helps a child exercise following a set up of instructions in order.
Themed artwork reinforces learning in a subject.
Provides more construction and guidance.
Information technology may boost kid's confidence when they see they are able to replicate the model.		 The fine art is not original.
Inventiveness is limited.
Some projects may not exist developmentally appropriate, which may lower confidence.
Caregiver might be more focused on the upshot that it may suppress inventiveness.

So, which is meliorate? Production or process art?

As yous tin see, in that location are pros and cons of both procedure art and production art. As a firm believer of "everything is proficient in moderation", I apply this to art as well. Yep, I've engaged in more product art in the past and still continue to practise so in the present because my children enjoy information technology. But, my children are also given autonomy to appoint in process art.

Based on my family unit's experience, the product focused projects exposed my children to different ways to explore and employ arts and crafts materials. Because of this experience, they felt confident in their ability to experiment and combine diverse tools and techniques to create something entirely unique.

In summary, the question shouldn't exist "which is better, process art of product art?" considering they both have their benefits. I hope this post helps you understand the pros and cons of both and so yous can be more intentional with whichever fine art projection you choose to appoint your child in. ?