Infant/Toddler Area

1. Infant/Toddler Area By: Angela Peik

2. Included in Environment • Books about art • Art Displays • Art Easel • Smocks • Paint Table • Drawing/crafting table • Art Supplies (paper, glue, scissors, markers, crayons, stickers, etc.) • Sensory Table • Clay, Play dough, and Sand • Share Time • Computers • Patio Doors (Large Windows for window markers and art) • Family Corner • Bean Bags in book corner • Drying shelving

3. Books about Art • Having books that the children can look at is important because they are able to discover all different types of art, while learning about artists as well. • They can learn about object art, different kinds of paint and ways to use the paint, sculpting art and so much more.

4. Art on Display • Having art on display for the children to look at and explore is important as well. • Their ideas can feed off of the artwork that they see • They are also able to look at the art more closely and maybe notice some things that they wouldn’t have been able to see before

5. Art Easels • An art easel is where a child can easily create art of their own, whether that’s with paint or markers or any other art material. • The easel is something that’s at the child’s height and will hold their paper in place while they create

6. Smocks • Having smocks for the children is important because you want them to be able to freely create their art without having to worry about ruining their clothes

7. Paint Table • The paint table is where the children can bring their paper and start creating their art with paint. • They will also have access to different things that can be used in the paint such as sponges, brushes, Q-tips or even cotton balls • The children are learning about colors and what happens when they are mixed as well as using their small motor skills

8. Drawing/Craft Table • This table is where the children are able to create any type of art they’d like, using the materials given • There will also be a wall full of their creations on display here so that they’ll be able to look back at what they and others have created and feel proud of it.

9. Art Supplies • These are the supplies that will be readily available for the children at the art table • There will be scissors, glue, drawing materials, staples, tape, and stickers just to name a few • Giving children time to create any type of art with any given material is important because not only are they using their imaginations they are also learning about the materials and using their small motor skill as well

10. Sensory Table • The sensory table is where the children are able to look at and discover things more closely • You bring one type of material at a time that can be molded or shaped into art and allow the children to build and create

11. Materials for Sensory Table • With sand they are able to build castles or make a river • With clay they are able to mold animals or people • With play dough they’re able to create food or animals • There are many other things that can be brought for them, these are just examples

12. Share Time • During share time, each child is given the opportunity to share any type of art that they created. • This gets the children communicating with each other as well as complimenting each other on their work • The children can feel proud about what they created and become motivated to make new things as well

13. Computers • There are so many different things that can be done on a computer. • Pictures can be printed out for coloring • They can create art with the “Paint” program • There are even many computer games that the children can play where they are creating all different kinds of art

14. Patio Doors • The glass on the patio doors make for great art display • Dry erase markers or there are even “window markers” now that the children can color and create right on the glass and then it’s easily removed by a dry cloth • This also allows for the other children to be able to see the art work (as if it were on display)