“Art education is essential for life.”
——Chinese philosopher Cai Yuanpei
Through art education, we can cultivate our pupils’ personalities while helping them to thrive as well-rounded learners. When you work with art in an early years’ setting, the joyful chatter of children is energising. Their talent and innate genius surprise you, and their whimsy amazes you.
Art education is intertwined with what pupils learn at Hiba Nursery, and we provide opportunities for artistic education whenever possible. As teachers, we passionately support our pupils in this process. Every pupil in our care is able to create confidently and independently, whether they are EY1 pupils who cannot yet grip a pen or EY3 and EY4 pupils who already can already work with a variety of media. It is widely acknowledged that children are born artists. What we can teach them is limited as their forthright expression and unrestricted creativity are often beyond the reach of adults. At Hiba Nursery, our young pupils in EY1 and EY2 enjoy scribbling. We provide them with a wide variety of implements to scribble with. Water colour pens are popular in the classroom. We also provide, chalk, sticks, cotton swabs and even toothbrushes, just to name a few.
Pupils in EY3 and EY4 are capable of using of an abundance of materials to create, such as recyclable boxes, bottles, straws, and hemp rope. Natural materials like shells, sand and beans are preferred materials as well. They use their vivid imaginations to combine these elements, and the outcomes are quite spectacular. Many of these works have a story behind them, which our pupils are always eager to share with us. Through these conversations, our pupils demonstrate that they understand the importance of cooperation with their peers as well as having respect for other pupil's work. Without question, colour is an essential part of art education. Each colour has its own expressive power that conveys mood and emotion. Teachers make paints and tools easily accessible to pupils, so they are free to explore the possibilities and see where their creativity takes them. Using single or mixed colours supports the individual preferences of each pupil.
Some pupils like to make handprints. Some like to paint rainbows. Some like to smash irregular patterns with paint-filled balloons. Some like to use paint rollers, while other like to explore colour variations with spray paint. Every art session is an odyssey for our pupils, and with each successive creation they make, they step into a wider world.
It is through these activities that we engage in art education, and it is a true joy to teach our pupils how to appreciate and create beauty. As optimistic, open-minded little Hiba learners, they are able experience the fun of the creation process and be proud of what they do, which in turn will prompt them to be more confident and independent. We believe that under our guidance, they will share the joy of artistic creation with others around them, too.
