Wee ones, too, please!

This photo was taken when I first started teaching Art in Motion classes. This wee one one was only six months old, and he was already enjoying making art with his Daddy. Feeling the texture of the smooth crayon against the rough sandpaper, taking in all the movement and sound around him, even the smallest kids can participate in a way that is developmentally appropriate. So what are those wee ones doing while they watch the big kids? We tend to think of "watching" as a passive term, but for an infant or young toddler, watching is learning about the world around them. Add sound and movement to their landscape, and you will see their different reactions. Some babies become visibly excited, waving small arms and legs. Some may need to keep a close eye or hand on mom or dad for reassurance. Moms and Dads can show baby how to do the motions for songs and finger plays, and these motions, words, and melodies become part of the child's world. Likewise, just touching a crayon to paper gives a wee one their first taste (perhaps literally!) of material exploration. So don't think that your littlest ones aren't benefitting from exposure and side by side interaction with music, movement, and art materials: you are setting the creative stage for future developments!