Art is the “first language” of the beginning reader and writer. Children usually draw or paint before they write. They use what might seem like just scribbles, lines and blobs to represent things. But isn’t that what writing is all about? Both art and writing are a process of symbol making and can be a means of communication. Children’s pictures are words to them and represent an essential step on the road to literacy.
Offering children lots of different opportunities to mark make and using a variety of mediums and sensory experiences supports the importance of art as a tool for self-expression, language and writing. Try these suggestions outdoors to broaden your child's experiences.
Rubbings
What you need ...
paper
wax crayons
What to do ...
find any rough surfaces in and around your home with your child
touch the surface and talk about how it feels (e.g. soft, smooth, hard, rough)
let your child place the paper flat on the surface and rub their crayon over it
compare different rubbings
Pavement art
What you need ...
a container of water e.g. bucket, washing up bowl
brushes
items to print with e.g. potatoes, cups, feet, hands
What to do ...
on a warm, sunny day, let you child 'paint' or print with water on the pavement or on a fence
talk about the sun drying the pictures up
let them start all over again
