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Kids-At-Art
 Kids-at-Art
is an award winning multi-media art
educational program developed in 1992 by
Winston J. Taylor, ARV Arts Center
staff member. In 1993, Taylor received
the Arkansas Arts Award for Art
Educational Achievement from the Arkansas
Arts Council, an agency of the Department
of Arkansas Heritage.
Nine
structured art lessons are presented each
school year to 4th and 5th grade students
in the public schools, St. John's Catholic
School and to home schooled students. Each
lesson contains integrated curriculum to
incorporate other disciplines of learning.
The lessons integrate such subjects as
environmental studies, math, science,
social studies, and language into the art
lessons. The popularity of this program
continues to grow and is often requested
by both teachers and students.
Ten
Tips for Parents to Keep the Arts in Their
Children's Lives
How
children learn and the role that the arts
play in that process has been studied for
a number of years. The results
increasingly conclude that study and
participation in the arts not only
produces knowledge of and proficiency in
an art form, but also positively affects
the process of learning itself. The
results show that the arts are
cognitive-they embody and develop
knowledge and mental skills-habits of
mind, risk-taking, focus, and
self-discipline. The following ten
suggestions will help parents keep the
arts in their children's lives-at home, in
school, and in the community.
At
Home
1.
Start sharing your interest in the arts
with your children when they are very
young. Listen to music in your home and go
to live performances whenever possible.
Experience theatre, dance, and literary
events together. Take your children to art
exhibits. Make it a regular part of family
outings. Many events at the ARV Arts
Center, and others as you travel are
free.
2.
Keep a journal of your next vacation,
outing, or events like a trip to the zoo,
walk in the park or woods, or a special
birthday. Collect memorabilia like
tickets, flowers, shells, and pictures.
Write a description of the event and paste
the mementos in a spiral notebook or
journal. As soon as children are old
enough, let them help and later make their
own.
3.
Keep a variety of art materials available
to your children, crayons, colored paper,
glue, colored pencils, pastels, newsprint,
paints, etc. These can be very
inexpensive. Encourage your children to
use them instead of watching too much
television or endlessly playing video
games. Give them a disposable camera to
document a trip to the grocery store,
playing with friends or going some place
special. This will help them become more
aware of their surroundings and the
'color' and objects in their
lives.
4.
Choose a popular work of art, maybe from a
library book or an art exhibit. Talk about
the painting and how it depicts the
subject. What are some sounds associated
with it? What other colors could be
associated with it?
At
School
5.
Educate yourself about the art education
programs at your school. Is there an arts
credit required to graduate? Are there
achievement standards for the arts in your
schools? Is there a budget to support the
arts in your schools? space?
equipment?
6.
Ask your local arts center and
community-based arts organizations to
speak to your PTA or civic clubs about the
importance of the arts in children's
education.
7.
Volunteer to assist with art projects in
your child's school or at the local arts
center. Help organize an arts day, assist
with assembling an arts and writing
journal of each student's work, make
art-related field trips and enrich the
experience by including a discussion of
art.
In
the Community
8.
Take your children to arts events in your
community. Many are free and the quality
is excellent. Send them to arts camps,
classes and music lessons. Encourage them
to participate in school and community
theatre and vocal groups.
9.
Assist your local arts organizations in
celebrating October as National Arts and
Humanities Month.
10.
Whenever possible, take your children with
you as you volunteer for arts
organizations and events. help raise funds
and awareness, etc.
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