This week’s question:

For infants and toddlers, creative art experiences are all about the process of sensory exploration. Such experiences are an important part of their development.

When infants first interact with their environment, they do not have words to describe what they encounter, but they do absorb information through their senses.

Infants use their senses to explore the world around them. Their visual tracking, physical movements, and attempts to speak are reflective of brain development taking place.

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Engage all your infant’s senses with open-ended process art activities. Your goal should be to enjoy the process of making art versus the creation of a finished project.

Art with infants and young toddlers can be messy, but this creates a wonderful opportunity for tactile experiences, developing hand eye coordination, and fine motor skills.

What may look like a mess on the surface is truly a learning experience for your child. 

The idea of messy art experiences may seem daunting at first, but there are many benefits to messy play.

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We know that play is the work of the child. This is true for children of all ages, but especially for infants and young toddlers.

Try not to be intimidated by messy art play. Keep a bucket of warm soapy water and washcloths nearby. You can cover and protect surfaces with drop cloths or newspaper. 

Embrace messy art and remember; Children are 100% washable!