Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Cognitive Development (CD)

Subdomain: Construction of Knowledge: Thinking and Reasoning

Goal: Children use their senses to construct knowledge about the world around them

Skill Progression: Constructs knowledge

Age: 48-54 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 48-54 Months.

Observe the child in an art activity. Give him a variety of materials to combine in a picture or collage. Provide colored paper, pipe cleaners, fabric, feathers, etc. along with scissors, markers, glue, tape, and stapler. Observe what and how the child combines the materials to make a creation.

Elicitation may not be needed. Children love to explore and combine materials in different ways. Just suggest the child “make a picture.” Ask questions about what he is thinking as he works on his picture. “Tell me about what this is and why you picked this.”

Observe whether the child pays attention to color, shape, texture or other features. The child will pick particular materials because they are related to what they know or want to represent.

Encourage early childhood educators and parents to have art materials available for the child to use. This is a particularly important time for the child to use his imagination, as he combines what he knows about the world with what he can imagine that does not exist. When early childhood educators and parents allow children to freely express their creativity, they build self-confidence.