Kool Beginnings Curriculum – Art Expression

Our Kool Beginnings Curriculum (KBC) ‘Art Expression’ block encompasses the broader concept of both visual and performing arts, including dance, drama, visual arts, music and media arts. Arts expression is both about art making, and enjoying the art of others.

The arts provide a platform for children to explore, generate, design, depict, convey, understand and exchange their ideas, emotions, and experiences. From the earliest stages, children engage in mark-making, drawing, and painting as precursors to writing, employing movement, expression, and noise as modes of communication. The arts also serve as expressive cultural tools and skill development mediums whilst enhancing overall wellbeing.

When engaging in both visual and performative art experiences, the focus is on the process, not the product. The process of creation, experimentation, and discovery from the lens of the child. Our role as educators is to support the exploration of materials, techniques and tools in a way that encourages reflection, critique, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, curiosity and self-expression.

Play and art expression are interrelated experiences and are both vital components to a child’s development. There are many areas in early childhood where play and art are inseparable and others that are strengthened by the coupling. Art expression is a fundamental form of communication and expression, both personal and cultural, it helps us to construct our sense of identity through the direct experiences it offers both as creators and observers.