My Little Creative Genius

5.11.2011

Okay, so maybe I'm not quite so humble.  To be honest, my little boy is more interested in learning how to put things together than he's interested in art.  For example, he'll spend hours opening and closing the closet doors to understand how the hinges work or he'll spend a good long time practicing how to snap and unsnap the safety belt on his high chair.  However, give him a piece of paper and a marker...and he's done in five minutes flat.

Little Lewie's Child Development Center (a.k.a. Daycare), however, is inspired by Reggio Emilia, Italy Approach, which among other important missions and criteria, focuses on providing an art based and multisensory curriculum in the classroom.  So, while Little Lewie's natural inclinations don't necessarily gravitate toward art, his daycare has inspired him to try a thing or two--like making collages out of natural materials (like pine cones, bark, leaves), molding and glazing clay, or drawing pictures using chalk, crayons, markers, or paint.   And, while he usually bypasses trying this stuff with me at home, his wonderful teachers at the Child Development Center actually inspire and encourage him to do it there.  When I received his first art project, I thought surely someone had to do it for him, but then they sent me pictures--firsthand proof that he may have an interest in art after all...




So while I used to turn my nose up to daycare and cried and cried the first day I had to send him...I'm starting to discover that maybe daycare has given him a lot of great exposure to new and interesting things that he wouldn't have at home...

12 comments:

  1. Isn't it funny how kids are much more willing to try new things in school than they are at home? Is it peer pressure? :) I love that his daycare encourages art and creativity - it can be such a great way to tie learning concepts to real life.

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  2. Wow, well glad he's learning and growing SO much :) Such a sweet, smart boy!

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  3. So glad he's enjoying daycare! I can't get Scotty to sit still to color for long either. I think it's a boy thing :) He does the same thing as Lewie, will sit and ponder things and try to figure out how they work. He tore apart a lego bike the other day to see how it went together...then asked me to fix it and I have no idea how!

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  4. These pictures are so sweet - he looks really serious about his art!

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  5. Oh my gosh, what a doll face! And that sufer-biy blonde hair! You must be one proud mama!

    xoxo,
    Amy

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  6. Oh that's so great! KLV will be starting PreK this fall and cannot wait to see all the wonder her teachers expose her to.

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  7. Oh that's fantastic! I love this post...it's especially timely since I FINALLY have a job interview and might REALLY need to think about daycare. I think it's so cool when our kids get exposed to different things when they are with other people. That said, I know I will be balling my eyes out the first day!

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  8. Thanks for stopping by today and sharing your honest comments.

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  9. And a Happy Be-lated Mother's Day to you, my friend and excellent mama extradinaire! I love that your day care does such cool things. I am just like you. I won't even apply for a job that would require me to send baby girl to day care. But if I could find one that does such cool things, I might be convinced. I'm so happy that it's worked out well for you and Little Lewie.

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  10. That is great that Little Lewie is loving art. I think that it is so important for children to learn through art. I try to do a lot of art with my daughter at home. I hope you are doing great my friend!

    Mama Hen

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  11. I love that my boy has so many kids that he enjoys playing with at daycare. Especially since he is an only. It is good social learning overall!

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  12. Have a great weekend my friend! I hope we will see some sun!

    Mama Hen

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