Guidelines for Open-ended Creativity
By Saima Yasin
• Never alter or 'fix' a child's work
• Provide a wide variety of interesting materials and choices
• Add new materials weekly, incorporating your theme if possible
• Never tell a child what to create
• Don't ask, "What is it?" - Say "Tell me about it’’
• Ask the child if and where he/she would like his name on the art
• Let children explore materials
• Let children come up with their own ideas and use materials creatively
• Provide materials for 3-D and ongoing artwork projects
• Encourage but do not force participation
• Do not make models or samples for the children
• Throw away any colorbooks or dittos in the room
• All materials should be at the children's level, and accessible
• Playdough and the art easel should be open the majority of each day
• Encourage children to express feelings and personal experiences through art
• Display art in a variety of ways - it should not all 'match'
• Talk about texture, colour, smell, shape, etc and the experience.
• Let the children be as independent as possible and encourage self-help skills and responsibility in cleaning up
• Educate parents as to the value and learning in open-ended art
• Teach and model appropriate use and respect of materials
• Allow ample time for children to create and explore
• Incorporate books on fine art in your classroom
• Children should be doing their own cutting - it's okay if a circle doesn't remotely resemble a circle yet
• There is no 'right' or 'wrong' way, or product
• The creative area should have a variety of different collage materials and always be an open, available choice
for children