Children are Artists: Supporting Children’s Learning Identity as Artists

Book excerpt: This book explores how we can better understand and support children’s learning identity as artists. It discusses an innovative pedagogical approach that outlines parents’ and educators’ roles in developing and supporting children as artists. Drawing on original research, the book discusses rich case study examples and vignettes to give new insights into children’s learning and developing identities as artists. It identifies the key characteristics of children’s creative learning and outlines a creative and reflective pedagogy while highlighting the role of adults in the process. The chapters discuss topics such as curiosity, creative skills, self-directed learning, real-life contexts for learning and ways of engaging creative learning and imagination. The book provides a new model for children’s art education and will be essential reading for academics, researchers, and students in the fields of arts education, creativity, and learning. It will also appeal to specialist art educators and policy makers within the arts and arts education.