Authentic Art with Children

This is the second edition of Authentic Art with Children. The book has been revised and reorganised to accommodate an extra chapter and QR code access to some instructional videos. This beautifully illustrated book is a 'hands on' practical guide that aims to fill those gaps in an educator's experiences with art making. As studio practices are unpacked and demonstrated the reader is invited to join in a journey through the same kinds of exploration, experimentation, practice and processes that artists engage in. For the past years many of my early childhood student teachers have struggled with the visual arts. There is a deeply ingrained belief that they cannot draw and are no good at art. This lack of self-efficacy is compounded by the lack of a strong contemporary theoretical framework for the visual arts in early childhood. The roles and rules for doing art with young children are not congruent with current practice. In confusion and frustration teachers turn to superficial and catchy activities that often have little to with art. This book tries to address both issues, first by providing practical guides that demonstrate how to use authentic art materials and provide real artistic experiences for children. Then by threading contemporary theory throughout with a strong focus on the role of the teacher.