As the old saying goes, “One man’s trash, is another man’s treasure”. Using recycled materials in the preschool classroom is no different. Some teachers may refer to this as junk art or real and found materials art, but, we here at H&H Child Care Training like to refer to it as Upcycled Art. We know the cost of materials can be hefty, especially on a teacher’s salary and even more so if the program you are working for doesn’t have a large budget for materials. This is where using recycled materials can come into play.
Research has consistently shown the importance of Art in the preschool classroom. Some reasons as to why Art is crucial in an early childhood program are: helping children develop their motor skills; helping children develop early math and numeracy skills; stress reduction; building children’s self-esteem; and helping further brain development, especially in the context of the creative side of the brain. With these reasons alone, every early childhood educator should be implementing Art in their daily activities with children but may be unsure how and where to get started.
Look no further fellow Artists! We are here to answer that call! H & H Child Care Training Courses grant .2 CEUs or more as well as awarding state approved clock hours of 2 or more for all childcare centers, and family childcare providers in many states. Check with your licensing agency to check for any additional requirements and to see if we are approved in your home state. Click here to search our vast list of courses and schedule your next class today!