The education and experience come together

The education and experience have come together.

Below I have written an article:

It has been published in Redmond Toddler groups newsletter. I now work for a place called Orange Blossom Society in Redmond teaching my Concept of Sensory art for young children that I had created at my past business called Art Experiences that was located at Redmond Town center.

I am very happy at Orange Blossom Society. It is a place that parents come to connect and relax while their children can play and attend Fine arts classes, Sensory art classes, Yoga, a Math class called abacus, a Language school called Sponge. I really believe in the owner Sharman Ghio's vision.

"Her vision is to create a place for families to come and learn and get support from other parents and educators. A place for sharing and bonding .A community for people to be a part of, that is like a second family." This is not just her trying to advertise her services. I have gotten to know her pretty well and I know that she is very honest and sincere on the nature of her business."Her baby". That she means every word she says about it. I feel honored to be a part of the Orange Blossom Society and the gifts it brings to so many families in the eastside area.

How to give your child a rewarding Art Experience

By: Meagan Buckmaster-Ross

An open ended learning environment is the cornerstone of a child's brain development in infancy and childhood. Parents, grandparents and caregivers can do a number of things to nourish and fulfill the learning process for children. The brain literally is growing new connections on a constant basis. Research has shown that experiences with new kinds of activity or stimulation can generate growth in the brain within only a few hours after the experiences begin. Experts say that Art engages a variety of the brain's areas that help children learn emotion, cognition and memory. It also develops creative thinking, problem solving/decision making skills, provides means of communication and self expression, aids physical coordination, and serves as an emotional release. Children should receive many opportunities to color, draw, paint, and create using many different types of art materials.

Many people have different opinions on the way an Art lesson should be taught. As an artist myself I agree with all of them. There are seven types of learning styles. Therefore, I believe that children can learn from many types of teaching styles. Here are just a few key details when you search for an art class for your child given this information.
Establish or seek out a fun, joyful, safe, and secure environment for children with many forms or ways to develop artwork. The most important fact in my opinion is, that the activity that is set out for the child to do is at a developmentally age appropriate level. This means that the art activity is truly a child initiated, child driven project that the child can do without any help from someone else, especially a parent or caregiver. The tables and activities should be at their height level. The materials or tools need to be open for them to reach and explore and manipulate. Most important is the freedom to create naturally with their abilities and skills.

With this in mind, before signing your child up for an Art class, you may want to check out the credentials of the art instructors. A background in art training, as well as early childhood development or education is very beneficial. These credentials will help the instructor gear the activities to your child’s level. Be sure to also keep in mind that “It’s the process not the product”, that will give your young child the most rewarding art experience.

Meagan Buckmaster-Ross is a mother of four and Art Instructor/Special Events Coordinator at Orange Blossom Society in Redmond. She teaches sensory art experiences for toddlers and children 12months-10 years old. She also creates customized birthday parties and special event celebrations.

Recommended resources:

Don’t move the muffin tins, by: Bev Bos

Before the basics, by: Bev Bos

Healy, J. (1994). Your Child's Growing Mind: A Practical Guide to Brain Development and Learning from Birth to Adolescence. New York: Doubleday.

Jensen, Eric. (1998). Teaching with the Brain in Mind. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Alexandria, Va. ………For info on the Seven learning styles: By Stacy Mantle http://www.lessontutor.com/sm1.html