Teaching Art to Young Children 4-9

Book excerpt: This second edition of a classic and popular book includes new chapters, figures and colour plates. The book blends practical ideas with sound principles of art education. For the teacher or trainee-teacher looking for ideas, there are plenty of tested classroom examples. For those looking for firm principles of art teaching and 'best practice', this book presents many important issues in art education with clarity and insight. Based on first-hand experience of teaching children, the book uses many examples from the school situation. Essential topics, such as developing skills through using media, how children draw, producing original artwork, developing ideas and Art and the digital image are tackled with realism and imagination. An important feature is that these subjects are not seen in isolation but are purposefully linked with other areas of the curriculum. The author's approach should encourage teachers to develop and think about art in the National Curriculum. His writing shows a deep sympathy with children and sensitivity to the real task of teaching art to the young.