An Inclusive Early Childhood
Development Program
Family Letters and Art Boxes
Start with the Arts ™ Introductory Letter
Dear family,
We are excited about Start with the Arts™, a resource of arts lessons and activities that will greatly enhance and expand your child’s learning.
The arts—visual arts, drama, dance and movement, and music—are a cornerstone of early childhood programs. Through the arts, children develop skills and understanding that serve as a foundation for learning in other areas. Start with the Arts™ uniquely combines arts activities with:
- A wealth of reading selections and ideas for building children’s literacy
- Ways to adapt lessons and materials to ensure that children of all abilities are included
- Family Letters and ideas for involving you as a partner in your child’s learning
On a regular basis, your child will bring home a letter to you about the lesson. It includes some ideas for talking to your child about the activity and continuing the experience at home. Brothers, sisters, cousins—any family member—can join!
Accompanying the Family Letter, there may be a page from your child’s Learning Log. The Learning Log is your child’s journal of the arts activity. To the best of his or her ability, your child will communicate through drawing and/or writing about the arts experience.
I look forward to talking with you further about Start with the Arts™ and hearing your ideas about the most effective ways for you to experience the arts with your child at home.
Start with the Arts™ Family Letter for Visual Arts
Dear family
Your child’s scribbles are more important than you might think! Young children learn communication skills through art. Try this: the next time your child “scribbles” on a piece of paper, say: “Tell me about your drawing.” You may be surprised by the elaborate and involved response you get.
When you provide many opportunities for your child to experiment, discover, and express him- or herself through art, you are helping to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Have a few basic materials on hand. Most materials—such as crayons, markers, unlined paper, paper plates, tape, glue, and a pair of child’s scissors—can be found in grocery stores. Avoid coloring books and “showing how it is done.” There is no right way to create art! Let your child expand his or her imagination, instead of coloring in someone else’s design.
Is there an area in your home where your child can store the art materials? On the next page are some ideas for an Art Box. This is an extensive list, but having simply a few items is enough to get started.
Encourage your child to take good care of the art materials and return them to the Art Box after using them. Show that you value your child’s efforts by talking about what he or she is doing and by displaying proudly the finished work on the wall. You may want to draw with your child or together create a collage.
Experiment and have fun!
Start with the Arts™ Family Letter for Drama
Dear family,
Have you noticed that for a young child, a towel can become a magic cape and a piece of rope can become a dangerous snake?
Play is a child’s “work.” Through play, a child solves problems, expands thinking, learns social skills, and develops confidence. Young children especially enjoy pretending to be someone or something else!
You can encourage creative and spontaneous play by having simple, inexpensive materials on hand. Following are some ideas for a Drama Box. Start with just a few items and, with your child, continue to build the collection.
Sit back and enjoy the show!
Start with the Arts™ Family Letter for Dance and Movement
Dear family,
Children naturally dance and play. They are always moving. With a little direction—maybe a few props—and lots of encouragement, you can channel this energy in ways that build self esteem, self-expression, positive social skills, and a good sense of physical space, and that develop small and large muscle coordination and strength. That’s a lot!
One way to start would be to have a Dance and Movement Box that is filled with materials to spur the imagination. Give your child the opportunity to perform. Better yet, dance together!
Some ideas for dancing:
- Create a dance with flowing scarves, tissue paper, or crepe paper.
- Stretch, using elastic tapes (found in sewing centers or variety stores). Sew the ends of tapes together to make a huge elastic band.
- Dance with balloons and/or bubbles to all kinds of music.
- Bounce or throw “inside balls” in new and inventive ways.
- Create dances in the dark with flashlights or glowsticks.
- Shadow-dance in a dark room in front of a light source.
- Write your name in the air with different parts of your body.
- Follow the leader by dancing facing a partner and imitating the movement.
- Dance and move in front of a mirror. Move, dance, play, enjoy!
Start with the Arts™ Family Letter for Music
Dear family,
Music is all around us, from television to radio to background music in grocery stores. How does your child respond? Does he or she sing or hum along? Did you know that you could build your child’s listening, memory, communication, and social skills through music activities?
As with all the arts, a child’s world is enriched when it is filled with songs, rhythm, playful chants and instruments. Consider broadening your child’s world by exposing him or her to a variety of different music. Listen to music together. Sing together. Attached are some ideas for a Music Box for your home. You will find ideas for making your own instruments using simple materials, such as blocks of wood and containers with lids, filled with rice and beans. You have the makings of a rhythm band in your own home and you may not even know it!
Encourage your child to value the homemade instruments, as well as musical recordings, by keeping them in a special place and having your child return them when they are finished.
With your child, enjoy favorite sounds and discover new ones.
Enjoy!
Children creating during the 2007 Start with the Arts Family Festival in Washington, DC.
