Freedom to Create
Gloria Horn, Project Coordinator, Child Development, Inc., Russville, Arkansas

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The "arts" are an intricate and important part of any preschool program. Children can express themselves through the use of various and interesting mediums and should be allowed freedom to create whatever they want without censorship from teachers or parents. Non-verbal children especially benefit from a wide variety of materials with which to express themselves.

Programs sometimes avoid using the messier art materials but with proper preparation and supervision children can use these materials and have a great deal of fun in expressing themselves without creating havoc in the classroom or headaches for the teacher. Some suggestions are:

• Smocks, old shirts, sheets, or even trash bags will protect children's clothing and the floor (if necessary).
  
• Children like to use shaving cream to which food coloring has been added. (A plastic sheet will protect the table.) The children can be allowed to be "messy" with this until they are tired of it. Then simply fold the plastic up and throw it away when the children are finished with their creations.
  
• Dramatic play of skits are an important part of the "arts." For example, children could make traditional Native American costumes and perform a dance in front of their tepee. The costumes could be old pillowcases dyed brown and decorated by the children. The tepee could be and old sheet.
  
• Music is a great medium of the "arts." Children can dress in dramatic clothing from around the world and perform music on multicultural instruments.

Children have great imaginations and should be encouraged to use them. Children should not be limited in art, and all art mediums should be available in their classrooms. One job of a teacher is to encourage this creativity and individualism.

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