Art Activities - Introduction to the Activities for Distance Learning

Aug 27, 2026

Upload by Rhys

Art Activities for distance learning supports children across physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development through hands-on creation. The guidance explains how making art strengthens coordination, hand and arm muscles, pre-writing skills, and understanding of math and science ideas such as lines, shapes, colors, textures, and cause and effect. It also emphasizes that the creative process matters more than the final product, highlighting choice of materials, planning, and starting over. Adults are encouraged to provide inspiring experiences, safe, developmentally adapted materials, close supervision for infants and toddlers, and options that reduce discomfort with sensory or messy activities.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLifestyle

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Art activities

Development through creating art

Social and emotional growth

Adult support and inspiration

Supervision and safety by age

Adapting materials for developmental needs

CHILDREN’S HOME SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA Family Child Care Home Education Network (FCCHEN) Family and Child Care Provider Resource: Introduction to the Activities for Distance Learning Art Activities Art activities support children in all areas of development and enrich their lives. When children are engaged in the process of creating art, they strengthen their coordination, build muscles in their hands and arms, practice pre-writing skills, and explore math and science concepts such as lines, shapes, colors, textures, cause and effect, and critical thinking. Children become innovative, or creative, thinkers when they use their imagination on a regular basis. This is a valuable skill because creative thinkers are better prepared to solve problems and develop new ideas. Children also develop social and emotional skills when they explore art. Through art projects, children are able to express themselves, work through challenging emotions, make sense of the world around them, gain confidence, and develop their own self-identity. The process of creating art is more valuable to a child’s development than the product they create. It is through that process of choosing materials, creating, and sometimes even starting over, where real learning and discovery take place. While adults may offer ideas for projects to children, allowing them to plan and create their own art is what sparks their creativity. Adults can support children in exploring art by providing them with opportunities to see beautiful things. Children can explore flowers and trees, or watch a sunset outside. Visit your local public library to find children’s books that inspire creativity or talk about artists. Children and adults can also use online tools to explore, download, or print beautiful art such as Smithsonian Open Access or Google Arts and Culture. Make a folder of art images that are interesting to children and place it near art supplies where children can look through it for inspiration. Gather a few basic art supplies in a box that children can use to explore and create on their own such as paper, crayons, pencils, stickers, watercolor paint, sidewalk chalk, and playdough. Infants and toddlers need close supervision and the assistance of adults when doing art activities. Children three and up can work on projects with less supervision as long as the materials are safe (non-toxic, not a choking hazard) . Keep in mind that some children may not be comfortable with touching sensory materials or messy art. This is okay! They can still explore art; they just might need a barrier between them and materials they are not comfortable with. For example, playdough can be placed inside a sandwich bag to squeeze, or placed on a table with plastic cling wrap over the top. Tape down the edges to keep the plastic wrap from moving. Children can also paint by shaking containers that are lined with paper and a ball dipped in paint. Plastic freezer bags can be used to create sensory bags that allow children to explore messy, squishy materials without directly touching them. Art materials can also be adapted to accommodate varying developmental levels or needs of children. For example, a muffin pan can be used to make large crayons for infants, toddlers, or children who are still developing muscle strength in their hands. Make tools like markers, pencils, and paint brushes easier to hold by wrapping them in a sponge or chenille stems that are taped in place. Some children may also find it easier to draw or paint on an angled surface such as an easel, or by laying down and working on top of newspapers on the floor. Finding ways to do art comfortably will make the process more enjoyable for children and increase the likelihood that they will want to do more art projects. CHILDREN’S HOME SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA Programa de la red familiar de cuidado infantil (FCCHEN, por sus siglas en inglés) Recurso para familias y proveedores del cuidado infantil: Introducción

FAQs

Why do art activities benefit children’s development beyond creativity?

Art activities strengthen coordination, build hand and arm muscles, support pre-writing skills, and help children explore math and science concepts such as lines, shapes, colors, textures, and cause and effect.

Why is the process of creating art more important than the final product?

Choosing materials, creating, and sometimes starting over leads to real learning and discovery, while planning and making their own art sparks children’s creativity.

How can adults support infants, toddlers, and children who may not like messy sensory materials?

Infants and toddlers need close supervision and adult help, while materials must be safe. If sensory materials feel uncomfortable, adults can add barriers or use alternatives such as sensory bags or covered surfaces to allow exploration without direct messy contact.

Aug 27, 2026

Upload by Rhys