The toddler room has welcomed almost an entirely new group of children and with that comes the joy of art and painting experiences. The children have quickly come to realize that the red matt being placed on the table means a new sensory experience of paint.
Some children pause to observe the others joy of this sensory experience while others join right in. The children have been given a variety of different colours and mediums to explore. Marina uses the medium of the paint brushes and toilet brush to start off with but then eventually leading to her hands and arms as well. Arjan and Vihana watch this exploration and join in as well using the brushes but then their hands smiling as the paint covers their palms. Willow uses her brush to slap the paper watching as this creates a speckled look on her paper. An alternate day sees the toddlers using cardboard tubes with many including Isaac making circles on their page but then as the paint transfers to his hands he uses these to smear all over his paper. Vihana once again joins in this fun proudly showing everyone the paint on her hands. The painting activities introduced in the classroom have become a great experience and for many of our new toddlers the first time they are experiencing this type of sensory exploration.
Skills such as fine and gross motor, cognitive an emotional skill are all developed through hands on sensory play and exploring. Fine and gross motor skills are developed by just simply griping the paint brush or rolling with our paint rollers.
Hand eye coordination as well as small muscle development are used with the use of the varied mediums as well. Cause and effect exploration are discovered through the physical movements that create paint marks and colour changes on the paper.
Sensory exploration is achieved through not only exploring the textures of the brushes and rolls but the slippery aspect of the paint as well. The use of paint in the classroom gives the children the freedom to paint and use the paint however they would like to. Confidence is built because there is no wrong or right way to paint which allows them independence receiving the stress of a new environment.
Watch for more paint and art activities as the children explore this new environment
