CHLD 121: Art for Children

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2022
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: No
Grading Method: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Catalog Course Description

Students will gain knowledge of developmentally appropriate art activities to use with preschool and early-school age children. Students will evaluate art and crafts materials used with children to nurture the development of creativity. Students will design developmentally appropriate art curriculum and explore ways to support creative thinking and experiences for children. Students will gain appreciation for art and creative thinking within diverse cultures and society at large. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • Develop and implement an art curriculum based on principles of child development and developmentally appropriate practice.
  • Analyze and describe the development of children's art and how this reflects development in other areas.
  • Compare and contrast art and crafts within the children's program for the specific purpose of planning curriculum that facilitates creative thinking.
  • Evaluate children's art programs based on the principles of child development specific to creative expression.
  • Develop a parent education program that informs of the purpose of early childhood art curriculum and the importance of creativity art experiences.

Major Course Content

  1. Understanding Art and Creativity for Children
    1. Art for preschool and early school-age children
    2. Developmentally appropriate practice
    3. Curriculum planning
    4. Creative thinking and experience
  2. Young Children as Artists
    1. Art and the developing child
    2. Children’s artistic development
    3. Special needs
    4. Cultural Diversity
  3. Art and Aesthetics
    1. Elements of art and sensory experiences
    2. The complete art program
    3. The value of the arts in society
  4. Art Activities for Young Children
    1. Drawing materials
    2. Painting activities
    3. Printing
    4. Use of adhesives and scissors
    5. Collage, montage and textures
    6. Manipulative materials,
    7. Woodworking
    8. Three dimensional art
    9. Simple sewing and weaving
    10. Use of natural materials
    11. Crafts for young children
  5. Providing Art Experiences
    1. The art center
    2. Displaying children’s art
    3. Child centered vs. teacher directed
    4. The Constructivist approach to art
  6. Roles and Strategies
    1. Responding to children’s art
    2. Parent education program
    3. The portfolio
    4. Art therapy

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Develop, write and make samples of developmentally appropriate creative art curriculum activities for use in early childhood education classrooms.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Observe, analyze and report about the developmental appropriateness of art curriculum in early childhood education programs.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture