Let's Learn More About Art

Preschoolers

by LearnX Arts

Let’s Learn More about Art!

Check out our enriching and engaging learning packages to learn more about the wonderful world of Arts, be it in crafts, performing arts, developing an appreciation of the arts and many more!

The packages below are suitable for 3 – 6 years old.

learn more about art

  • Share

let's move and groove

In recent years, dance and movement has revealed to be central to a young child’s development (Deans, 2016). Playful body-based learning through the modality of dance enhances a child’s playful mind, encourages imaginative problem-solving and builds a sense of confidence and autonomy. Additionally, dancing enhances a child’s gross motor skills by helping them coordinate different parts of their body as they move.

lets read

For 0 to 3 Year Olds

stomp wiggle clap and tap

Stomp, Wiggle, Clap and Tap

By: Rachelle Burk & Alyssa De Asi

Publisher: Naperville, Illinois: Callisto Publishing, 2024

Section: Early Literacy Emergent Readers

Call No.: English 792.8 BUR

good night ballerinas

Good Night Ballerinas

By:Adam Gamble, Mark Jasper & Katherine Blackmore

Publisher: Sandwich, Massachusetts: Good Night Books, 2024

Section: Early Literacy Emergent Readers

Call No.: English 792.8 GAM

For 4 to 6 Year Olds

ballerina

Baller Ina

By:Liz Casal

Publisher: New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2023

Section: Early Literacy Picture Book

Call No.:English CAS

dance

Dance

By:Yolanda Ridge

Publisher: New York: Lightbox Learning Inc., 2025

Section: EEarly Literacy Picture Books / Non-Fiction

Call No.:English 792.8 RID

try this

go slow stop

Go! Slow! Stop!

Introduce a sense of pacing and rhythm through a fun dance party with a twist! Using red, yellow and green construction paper, prepare one circular cut-out from each sheet of paper. Write “Stop!”, “Slow!”, “Go!” on the red, yellow and green construction paper cutouts respectively. You may also paste each cutout on an ice-cream stick to make the signs.

Explain to your child that green means to dance freely, yellow means to dance in slow motion and to stop dancing when red appears. When you have picked out a few upbeat songs to dance to, turn up the music and get dancing! Have your child follow along with the signs as they wiggle around, slow down or freeze!

dancing

parenting tips

The goal is to foster a love for dance and movement, rather than pushing for perfection.

  1. Encourage free movement at home by allowing your child to freely dance at home in a safe space. Play music and let them express themselves without any rules or structure. Moving freely helps children develop their gross motor skills, such as balance, coordination, and spatial awareness.
  2. Play different types of music (e.g. pop, classical music, cultural music etc.) to expose your child to various rhythms and dance styles. This helps them to find what they enjoy and broadens their experience of movement and music. Learning various dance styles helps them become more flexible in their movements and better at adjusting to different rhythms and techniques.

Star Dance Center. (2020, March 20). Miss Erin's Magical Dance Class [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGHFlCeJNso


YouDance. (2021, April 21). For KIDS - learn about HIP HOP *Follow Along* | YouDance.com [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMqYjYH6z6w


References:

  1. Deans, J. (2016). Thinking, Feeling and Relating: Young Children Learning through Dance. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 41(3), 46-57. https://doi.org/10.1177/183693911604100307
  2. Regalo Baby. (2020). 3 Gross Motor Activities For Toddlers Who Like to Move. Regalo Baby. https://regalo-baby.com/blogs/news/3-gross-motor-activities-toddlers-like-move
  3. McKinney, J. A., & Goss, S. E. (2017). The effects of dance and movement on motor skill development in early childhood. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 59(5), 459-466. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.13452
  • Mask-Making Magic

     

    Mask-making has a rich and diverse history, spanning various cultures and civilizations, each with its own distinct traditions. These masks are often used in traditional theater or cultural ceremonies to represent characters from folklore or historical figures. For young children, mask-making encourages creativity as they design and decorate their own unique masks, prompting them to think imaginatively and make artistic choices. Using these masks, children can engage in imaginative play, taking on different roles and characters to act out scenes and stories—an activity that fosters creativity, social skills, and emotional development.

     

    Lily's Cat Mask
    By Julie Fortenberry
    Publisher: New York, New York: Viking, 2017.
    Section: Early Literacy Picture Books
    Call No.: English FOR

     

    Making Masks
    By Toby Reynolds
    Publisher: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc
    NLB Overdrive Link: https://nlb.overdrive.com/library/kids/media/3602260

     

    Masquerade Party
    By Giuliano Feri
    Publisher: Hong Kong: Minedition, 2020
    Section: Early Literacy Sense & Sensations
    Call No.: English FER

     

    Craft A 3-D Mask!: And More Art Challenges
    By Megan Borgert-Spaniol
    Publisher: Minneapolis, Minnesota: Super Sandcastle, an imprint of Abdo Publishing, 2021
    Section: Junior Collection Non-Fiction
    Call No.: English 745.5 BOR

     

    Making mask-making fun for children involves adding an element of enjoyment and creativity to the activity.

    Here are several ways to make mask-making more enjoyable: 

     

     

    • Select themes that resonate with children's interests, such as animals, superheroes, fantasy creatures, or favorite storybook characters. This can make the activity more engaging and personalised.
    • Encourage  children to add personal touches to their masks, such as their favorite colors or unique designs.
    • Incorporate music and movement, encouraging children to move and dance both while creating and wearing their masks. 
    • Provide a variety of colorful construction paper, markers, stickers, feathers, sequins, and other decorative items to decorate the masks. Consider using recycled items wherever possible! Children can unleash their creativity with a wide range of materials. 

     

    • Break down the mask-making process into simple and interactive steps. Demonstrate each step before letting the children try it themselves, offering assistance only when needed.
    • Discuss the emotions or facial expressions they want to portray with their masks. This can be a great opportunity for them to express themselves.
    • Every child's mask will be unique! Encourage them to embrace their individuality and creativity.

     

    Paper Plate Animal Masks For Kids


    Video duration: 1:10


    abbEASY. (2020, October 23). Paper plate animal masks for kids [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIkQi-_mOGk


    UNICORN | Mask Paper Craft | Fast-n-Easy | DIY Labs


    Video duration: 1:12


    DIY Labs I Crafts, Food Art, Life Hacks & more. (2019, May 30). UNICORN | Mask Paper Craft | Fast-n-Easy | DIY Labs [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC2F-CKg8D4


    Paper Plate Mask -- Easy Kids Craft with Recyclable Materials


    Video duration: 0:32


    Kids Activities. (2015, August 11). Paper Plate Mask -- Easy Kids Craft with Recyclable Materials [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtBSMRga6Ts


    References:

    1. Falk, D. (2018, June 24). Making Cardboard Masks with Kids. Retrieved from https://artfulparent.com/making-cardboard-masks-kids/

    2. Van, F. (2018, June 5). Masking Your Child’s Imagination - Fun Van supported by First Things First. Fun Van Supported by First Things First. https://www.ajpl.org/funvan/2018/06/masking-your-childs-imagination/

    3. Educator. (2018, October 18). The benefits of using masks in the classroom. The Educator K/12. https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/the-benefits-of-using-masks-in-the-classroom/256321

  • Growing Through the Arts

    Art is important for early childhood development as they foster creativity, enhance cognitive abilities, promote emotional expression, and encourage fine motor skills. Engaging in artistic activities can help children develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and social-emotional intelligence. 


    For 0 to 3-year-olds

    Colour Gallery 
    By: Isabel Otter & Sophie Ledesma 
    Publisher: London: Little Tiger, 2023 
    Section: Early Literacy Concepts 
    Call No.: English OTT 

    Let’s Make Music
    By: Alexandra Penfold & Suzanne Kaufman
    Publisher: New York: Random House Children's Books, 2024
    Section: Early Literacy Poetry & Rhymes
    Call No.: English PEN

    For 4 to 6-year-olds

     

    Brian the Dancing Lion
    By: Tom Tinn-Disbury
    Publisher: North Mankato, Minnesota: Capstone Editions, an imprint of Capstone, 2022
    Section: Early Literacy Picture Books
    Call No.: English TIN

    Benford Draws a Blank
    By: Danielle Dufayet & Katia Klein
    Publisher: North Mankato, Minnesota: Capstone Editions, an imprint of Capstone, 2023
    Section: Early Literacy Picture Books
    Call No.: English DUF

    Fun with Playdough
    Playdough is a great sensory toy that sparks creativity in young children. As your child pokes, rolls, and shapes the playdough, their hand muscles strengthen, developing their fine motor skills. You can enhance their play by providing items such as cookie cutters, plastic cutlery, and old rubber stamps for cutting shapes and making imprints on the playdough. Using different tools to manipulate the dough also aids in your child’s hand-eye coordination.

    Playdough can be found easily in many children’s toystores. Alternatively, you can make some at home! Try this simple salt-free playdough recipe with your little one.

    Ingredients
    2 cups of flour
    ½ cup of water
    3 tbsp of oil
    Food colouring

    Directions
    1. Mix the flour, water, and oil into a bowl.
    2. Knead in food colouring.

    Encourage your child to choose their own colours for their playdough. Be sure to wear an apron and a pair of gloves as food colouring stains easily! 

     

    Crafty Music Shakers
    Listening to a cheerful song can instantly boost your energy, and it is no different for children! Music has a profound effect on our emotions. Upbeat tunes can enhance happiness, while relaxing melodies can soothe the mood. Music is also a great way to get your child moving! Dancing helps develop gross motor skills, and playing with instruments like shakers and maracas enhances fine motor skills. Moreover, the repetition of words and rhythms in music strengthens memory skills.

    Create your own paper plate shaker with your child! Grab a paper plate and fold it in half. Seal the edges with some tape, making sure to leave an opening at the top of about 5cm. Fill the pocket with some dried beans or rice grains, and seal the opening with more tape. Have your child decorate the shaker with drawing materials such as markers and crayons. Put on your child’s favourite nursery rhyme and shake along to the beat!

    1. Be encouraging towards your little artist! When drawing together, express interest in your child’s artwork and ask your child open-ended questions like “Why did you choose these colours?” or “How did you feel when drawing this?”. This helps to expand their creativity and imagination.

    1. Read picture books with different art styles and illustration mediums, such as collage, watercolour, or photography. By exposing your child to different artforms, they can develop a deeper appreciation for diversity while also encouraging curiosity.

     

    Playlist: Move It and Groove It!

    How Art Benefits Children 

    Video duration: 5:56 

    An artist educator presents the benefits of art to children's minds, bodies and emotions. 

     

    Why Music Is Important for Early Childhood Development 
     
    Video duration: 4:58 

    Listening/playing music and singing are more than just enjoyable activities, these activities are helping to shape a baby - their mind, body and the way they see the world. The video shares about the top five benefits of music and singing for early childhood development.   


    References:

    1. The benefits of playdough in early learning and childcare. https://try.discoverchildcare.co.nz/2023/02/the-benefits-of-playdough-in-early-learning-and-childcare/

    1. Effects of Music on Child Development: 9 positive effects. (n.d.). Children Central. https://childrencentral.net/what-are-the-effects-of-music-on-child-development/

    1. The many benefits of music. (n.d.). Early Childhood Education and Care. https://earlychildhood.qld.gov.au/early-years/early-learning-at-home/encourage/the-many-benefits-of-music

    1. Mason, B. (2023, May 15). How parents can teach art literacy at home. Golden Road Arts. https://www.goldenroadarts.org/art-resources/how-parents-can-teach-art-literacy/

    1. Sciopic. (2016, February 27). How art benefits children [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FraV5xQiKfs

    1. - Divya -. (2019, May 16). Why music is important for early childhood development [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8ww__gVTA0