Art Goes with EVERYTHING like Peas & Carrots

I was just tickled pink to read about Froebel’s influence on art education! I have considered myself a hybrid of Froebel, Vygotsky and Piaget’s theories for quite sometime, and get very excited to discuss why these theories have been so influential on me and so many others!!!
Froebel really understood that children learn through exploration and play, and curated experiences through objects (gifts) and tasks to optimize their comprehension and retention. Did you know that Frank Lloyd Wright, Buckminster Fuller and Albert Einstein were all touched by Froebel’s gifts?!? I think that this perfectly demonstrates how a well curated art lesson can help children better understand the world in which they live, by means of early introduction to physics, geometry, and spacial awareness, not to mention the benefits of the aesthetic and tactile experience. I think it is imperative to cross pollinate lessons; that science and art go together like peas and carrots! Not just science, either; math, reading, geograpny, history, the list goes on and on! I think because art is such an accessible point of entry for children, and due to its interactive nature, that information is more palatable through art. Imagine giving children colors and shapes and learning how to construct letters or words from these, rather than relying on them to master memorization. I think of it as kind of like hiding vegetables (technical knowledge) in a big colorful cake (art).
The second leg of my philosophical platform is Lev Vygotsky’s take on children’s internalization and appropriation of concepts, as well as the cultural context in which children exist. Vygotsky really understood the importance of a child’s environment on their development including their family and community and cultural values. I think that keeping children’s origins in mind can really help to enhance their inclusion and internalization of lessons, and by this I mean lighting the flame that burns their own curiosity, rather than dictating expectations. Once a child internalizes values or concepts, they become self-motivated and will actively participate in their own education, promoting better comprehension and retention rates. Inclusive and representative approaches also help to promote diversity in groups, which I think helps nurture empathy and compassion among children. Vygotsky also encouraged a method now called “scaffolding” which allows children to work with people who are more skilled at the task at hand. Children are extremely receptive to learning with someone, as a great deal of their skills are imitation based, and taking into account they are very socially curious so using that to help focus their attention, possibly help lead the discussion and encourage participation.
Jean Piaget has a piece of my heart for his work with play! His theories and approach stressed the importance of play and independent exploration on a child’s development. Children need to be given space to explore concepts after introduction to familiarize themselves and internalize the results. We can tailor lessons to accommodate a child’s natural interests; for example, if a child is naturally drawn to dig a hole in the yard, count the number of scoops it takes to make the hole, explore objects that could fit in that hole, use the dirt that came out of the ground to form shapes or a sculpture. Children are naturally curious about the world and will not all have the same focus or expression. With this in mind I think that curating lessons that are open to interpretation and give children room to explore are the most effective. I think play is also extremely important in child development, and fortunately a LOT of art can incorporate play!!! Play is my favorite approach to making my own art!
My personal approach to creating art is heavily influenced by the concepts above. I find that my process goes something like: allowing myself room to explore medium, play without expectation on the outcome, understanding what I am trying to convey/express, and considering how this thing will exist in the world. I think as of lately a large part of my art education at CCS has driven home the importance of hands on/interactive learning, which I am determined to set as the cornerstone to my practice as an educator.