Creativity

 We have been working on coloring this whole year?  Why?  It teaches a few concepts.
1. Small Motor Skills or fine motor skills -- Children have the distinct challenge to learn how to use their bodies correctly by the time they get to school.  Some, even most, kids come to preschool with something I like to call "monkey grip".  They will hold a crayon with their whole fist and try to color this way.  It makes for a sloppy mess.  I had to teach quite a few of my kiddos how to hold their crayon properly, over many, many, many days.  There is probably a daily reminder, for some, for almost 2 months.  We have now reached a place where I don't have to remind any of these kids about "monkey grip" at all!

2. Completion --  Children generally start out the year trying to get through this task as quickly, and sloppily as possible.  They are often told to slow down and do their best work.  It becomes a source of pride for them when they can look at their art and see that they did a "good job".  I don't try to emphasize competition, but doing the best we can do is sometimes a skill.

3. Creativity --  Some kids want to do an accurate version of an animal, some kids want to color crazy, wild colors.  It is all alright with me.  Color can be a form of expression and creativity.  It can also be cathartic to put your emotions in color.  I have often seen a preschooler put into color what they cannot put into words.

So, color on!