Home is where the heart is

"Composing through art, like play, is a fundamental function of early cognitive, effective and social development. Through art, children actively construct understandings of themselves and their worlds, rather than simply becoming the passive recipients of knowledge" (Wright, 2010).

Children love to create. Creativity is an important part of the early years. Here at Bream Bay Kindergarten one child began a journey for many as they embraced the opportunity to share a story/drawing of their home. The children were all eager to share in the opportunity to create beautiful and creative images of their homes, engaging and narrating their pictures as they went. As they spoke we were able to listen to the love and pride that the children shared.

 

"For children art is primarily a means of expression, and it becomes a language of thought, therefore it changes as the child grows. The fact that children interact and share ideas when they are drawing, shows that drawing plays a role in developing children's vocabulary" (Anim, 2012).

 

Everybody's house was different and it was definitely a thinking a game, we had to think....

"Do I have a door at my house?"

"Do I have windows at my house?"

"Hey I have a chimney too"

"Oh I have a spider in my house"

The children inspired and collaborated together as they drew, discussing what they loved most at their house and talking about the people who lived within their home.

 

It was interesting and intriguing as children used their thought processes to make connections between the images they wished to create on paper and the images in their heads, all the aspects they remembered of their homes. Making the journey of translating what they feel, imagine or otherwise experience onto paper. Providing art experiences for tamariki allows them the opportunity to become confident involved learners as well as effective communicators. (Kolbe).

Ursula Kolbe talks about "providing time, space and materials"for tamariki to "let their imagination wander and express themselves in a creative manner" (2012). This follows the importance of imaginative play in the early years, it is important to that children give voice to their own ideas, that they express themselves creatively through imaginative play. Offering encouragement and support for their ideas. "A thoughtful art program offers children new perspectives for their learning and allows them to express themselves".