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Joseph Cianciotto on Art Appreciation with Children
According to Long Island resident and full-time family man Joseph Cianciotto, a child's brain is like a sponge. This means that childhood is an opportune time for parents to teach kids the skills necessary to succeed in life.
Art is known to improve literacy and early development in children. Appreciation and practice of art enhance a number of aspects of a child's development. These aspects include self-expression, imagination, creativity, open-mindedness, logic, and courage to take risks.
Today, Joseph Cianciotto discusses several ways to motivate children to take up art.
The first thing Joseph Cianciotto advises parents to do is to take their kids to art museums. Art museums can sharpen a child's comprehension of art elements. It can also enhance their emotional management, communication, and social skills. Parents should be prepared to share observations and analyses of the art pieces they find in the museum with their children. If the child is too young to appreciate a traditional art museum, parents may look for places with artwork geared toward a younger audience.
Next up, Joseph Cianciotto says that parents can give children access to open-ended art materials. When toddlers are given room to experiment and discover things they enjoy on their own, it is easier for them to fulfill their potential. Thus, in the home, there should be a wide variety of creative materials, such as non-toxic markers, papers, collage supplies, and more. Depending on the child's age, supervision by an adult may also be advisable.
Parents should also remember that complimenting their children's art can go a long way. For young ones, the process of creating artwork is much more important than the end product. As such, parents should avoid criticizing the work of their children. Instead, they should focus on making open-ended comments to understand how the kids came up with the artwork, explains Joseph Cianciotto.
Learn more about Joseph Cianciotto's insights on family life by checking out this blog.
