Our Philosophy
The Children’s Art Studio is founded on the belief that young people reap tremendous emotional, developmental, and intellectual gains from making art and that this opportunity should be available to all.
Small class size, thoughtful instruction, and the inventive use of high-quality materials is what it is all about.
The administration of our programs is guided by the same values that guide our instructional activities: diligence, inclusion, integrity, and care. We are committed to the responsible stewardship of resources and aim to build an environment where every person feels safe and respected.
By creating the conditions for children to deeply engage in creating art, the Children’s Art Studio promotes development across various domains, producing positive advancement for children’s learning in the classroom and beyond.
“When I announce that it is time for art, the students run to get ready. They all feel included. They love it. We love it, too”. -Ms. Akeema, teacher
Our Process
In the studio, children make meaning. Their understanding of themselves—their intellectual and emotional worlds– deepens and expands.
Completing complex, tactile-rich projects encourages healthy brain development, which builds the framework for acquiring knowledge, skills, and values.
We invite young children to work with a wide range of high-quality materials. We may work with paint, clay, wood, string, ink, dye, cloth, and more in any program. Each child receives one-on-one attention and the instruction necessary to use the materials well. The materials entice children to engage deeply—accessing early mindfulness and focused attention.
In our instruction, we leverage the high-interest art supplies further to develop children’s executive function and self-regulation skills. We encourage children to slow down, think, and plan as they approach their artwork. A generous amount of time is devoted to each project so students can work past frustrations and limitations.
Students improve at working through discomfort as they enjoy the rewards of seeing their completed artwork and the pride that comes from the expression, “I did that.” As children complete projects from beginning to end, they develop skills for impulse control, persistence, and task completion—skills critical to learning.
Making art has tremendous value for cognitive development. We see this every day.
When children represent ideas through building, drawing, painting, and sculpture, they show that they understand something about symbolic or abstract thinking: “I’m using this to stand in for that”. This is a cornerstone of cognitive growth with ramifications for learning.
We often pair our art instruction with children’s literature, creating more exposure to new vocabulary, concepts, and ways language and visual symbols work together to represent our world.
We saturate children with language by presenting many ideas to describe and explore in their projects. We always encourage questions and structured dialogue. During our discussions, children learn new words and are challenged to express new ideas.
At the Children’s Art Studio children learn positive behaviors for interacting in groups—taking turns, working together, and giving each other feedback. We exhibit artwork, fostering a sense of belonging and pride in achievement, thus celebrating each child's contribution.
Students negotiate the busy studio space, gaining control and a better sense of physical boundaries. Also, as young children explore materials and create projects, they develop greater dexterity, tactile sensitivity, hand strength, fine motor coordination, and foundational skills for all activities requiring agility.
Children who work with their hands and encounter multiple new textures and sensory experiences experience greater concentration and focus. This deepens the benefits of creativity, reduces the harmful effects of stress, and brings a sense of calm, stability, and joy.