I thought since I have been MIA for a while I would jump right back in with what could be in the Early Childhood field considered controversial. But we all have different outlooks and philosophies and I respect that, but here is my reasons.
The pictures below are such wonderful examples of how children's art and their creations are so much more magnificent than a teacher initiated, cookie cutter craft that has a "right way" and a "wrong way" of doing things. I don't believe crafts have value for children. I feel that by telling a child "the eyes go here, and the nose goes here" it pretty much has no personal meaning for the child. I ask you what is the purpose? So any teachers display mounds of crafts on their bulletin boards, but each one looks the same. It does not show the child's unique creativity. It also expresses to a child that there is a right way and a wrong way to do art. Art should be their own, it should be unique and an expression of what a child is thinking.
The pictures below are after a series on Space in our classroom. We talked about galaxies, we brainstormed, we researched, and we read books on galaxies. Without showing the children examples of how their art should look, they each created such wonderful expressions of galaxies. The materials were black construction paper, tempera powder, and a squirt bottle with water. Each child chose their colors scooped it on the paper, then squirted with water. The result was absolutely beautiful, and not one single galaxy looked the same.
