I have had some amazing discussions with coworkers and other educators about process art for kids. I’d love to share some of that information here . . .
What is process art for kids?
Process art is a contemporary artistic movement recognized within the world’s art communities. The Guggenheim states “process art emphasizes the ‘process’ of making art”. The MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) points out that “in process art, the means count for more than the ends.”
These definitions apply directly to process art for kids too! Process art is all about the experience the children have while they’re creating. If it has a nice end product, that’s great, but the end product isn’t the focus of process art. Ask yourself the questions below if you’re unsure. If the answer to either is “YES!” then it is not a process art activity.
- “Will I be upset if the end result doesn’t look a specific way?”
- “Do I have a preconceived notion about what the end result ‘should’ look like?”
Why is process art important for children?
Children learn through play and open-ended activities. It allows them the chance to explore the world around them, ask questions, and see how things work. Process art fits in with how children learn because it allows them room to be themselves, make their own decisions, and just create! Below is some of the learning that can take place via process art activities:
- Fine motor skills
- Gross motor skills and coordination
- Sensory exploration
- Literacy
- Math
- Science
- Language
- Art history
- Creativity and self-expression
- Art techniques
- Risk-taking
- Spatial reasoning
Crafts versus process art
It’s sometimes assumed (by parents and teachers alike) that young children will always produce cute crafts to bring home. There’s nothing wrong with crafts – they can help improve fine motor skills, as well as listening skills, and many children really do enjoy them!
Crafts focus more on a specific end result, though, leaving children little or no room to deviate from the plan. At the end of a craft, each child’s piece will look almost identical to every other child’s piece. Additionally, crafts put more of the preparation and “work” on the teacher’s shoulders.
Craft ideas CAN be “translated” into a process-based art experience with some tweaking.
For example, maybe your class is learning about caterpillars and you’d like to make a caterpillar craft. The craft would use three green circles, along with two white construction paper eyes placed only on the head, with two yellow antennae that must be affixed in only one place.
Why not just grab the materials you were planning on using, sit down with a small group of children (or just one child), and say, “Let’s make a caterpillar! How can we use these green circles to make a caterpillar?” Yes, some of the caterpillars will have a body made of 10 circles, while others will just be made of 1 circle. Some caterpillars might have 5 eyes all placed on the caterpillar’s stomach, and the antennae might be bent the wrong way. You can give the children the same general materials you would have used for the craft, but let the kids direct the creation. You’ll still have caterpillars . . . they’ll just have more personality!
In its purest form, though, process art isn’t focused on an outcome at all. Personally, I like incorporating completely child-driven art into my preschool class every day, like our tape and watercolors canvas art. I also plan process-based art activities that have a general outcome, like my students’ cookie cutter snowmen . While that isn’t considered 100% process art, I like how they connect the children to books we’ve read or themes we’re learning about.
Getting started with process art
If process art isn’t something you’re entirely comfortable with, start slowly! It doesn’t need to be a super complicated activity. It just needs to be open-ended, with more attention paid to HOW the art is created (rather than WHAT you want the art to look like). Begin with items like crayons, pencils, or markers. Items that are familiar to both you and your students will make the transition easier.
Keep in mind that process art for kids, like any childhood activity, can get messy. Having a plan in place to deal with that mess is important. Access to a water source (a sink or a hose) is preferable. Baby wipes work in a pinch if you’re not right by a sink. Consider something to protect the children’s clothing (a smock), if needed.
Don’t forget about keeping the mess off of the floor if that’s a cause for concern (use a tarp, towel, or tablecloth). Having a place to dry artwork is also important (a drying rack or level shelf). If the activity might get messy, accept that messiness is part of the process!
More information about process art for kids
- Children’s Art: Process VERSUS Product {Debbie Clements of Rainbows Within Reach}
- The Importance of Art for Children {Learn Play Imagine}
- Making the Transition from Product to Process Focused Art {Deborah Stewart of Teach Preschool}
- Building Language with Art {Twodaloo}
- What Do You Wish You Had Known about Making Art with Children? {Tinkerlab}
- Art for Kids – It’s No Mess {Meri Cherry}
- Creative Art with Young Children – It’s the Process not the Product! {Ooey Gooey}
Print resources for children’s process art
- Time to Create: Hands-On Explorations in Process Art for Young Children {Christie Burnett}
- Preschool Art: It’s the Process, Not the Product! {MaryAnn F. Kohl}
- Art Lab for Little Kids: 52 Playful Projects for Preschoolers {Susan Schwake}
Originally published March 26, 2014
Stephanie @ Twodaloo says
March 26, 2014 at 10:07 pmThis post is FAB. Thank you so much for including my Art and Language post in your recommendations, too! I’ll be sharing this everywhere and sending it to my kiddos’ co-op teachers, too!
Mary Catherine says
April 3, 2014 at 3:46 pmThank you!!!! 🙂 You know I think you’re pretty awesome — plus, your art and language posts illustrates how art can help kiddos in so many ways!
Meri Cherry says
March 26, 2014 at 11:42 pmWhat a great post! Thank you so much for including my process art post. We are huge advocates of process art at my house. So happy to see others spreading the word. This is really really great! Thanks again!
Mary Catherine says
April 3, 2014 at 3:47 pmI think your post really showed how kids of different ages can appreciate art, and I just love your site overall. You’re so inspirational! Thanks for the kind words. 🙂
Bar says
March 27, 2014 at 10:09 amWhat a great post! I miss the days of setting out the supplies and letting the kids make whatever they want. We used to do this all the time….but now, sadly, my kids will regurgitate the same flowers and penguins if I don’t give them more instructions. There does come an age, about 7 or 8, when they start to get stuck in a rut. And at about this age they also start to judge their work more closely (i.e. crying that it doesn’t look good). But this post has renewed my will to give it a try again. Maybe I will put out supplies but with an added prompt. Sort of guide them in a general direction but without rigid constraints. Thanks so much for re-energizing this disheartened mom! xo bar
Mary Catherine says
April 3, 2014 at 3:54 pmOh I’m so excited that you left me a message . . . I adore reading about what you’ve been up to at Art Bar! My son is almost 7, and I’ve seen him judge his art a bit too harshly too! It’s good to know that he’s not the only kiddo who struggles with this. I try my best to ask him questions about the colors he’s used, the techniques he’s used, etc. — that seems to help him when he’s focusing on what he thinks “doesn’t look good”. I also think that kiddos sometimes need that little push with an art prompt. Sometimes having so many supplies overwhelms them, in my opinion. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving kind words for me!!! 🙂
Anna@The Measured Mom says
March 27, 2014 at 10:47 amLOOOOOVE this post, Mary Catherine! This is just what I needed. I am trying to figure out how to do more process art. I like crafts, and so do my kids, but I know it’s important to do as much (more!) process art. I have to keep thinking it out. Thanks for helping me!
Mary Catherine says
April 3, 2014 at 3:58 pmAnna, thank you so much!! We like crafts at my house, and in preschool too, but I’ve tried to make them more process-oriented. This seems to work as a happy medium for us. I hope you found some ideas here!! 🙂 Thanks, as always, for your kind words.
Kay says
March 27, 2014 at 2:39 pmThanks for this! I spotted it on Pinterest and now I know I’m not strange. I was just telling my husband, the other day, that I like the kids to just create– without being constrained by an end result. Now I know what to call this idea!
Mary Catherine says
April 3, 2014 at 3:59 pmOh, Kay, I don’t think you’re strange at all! Isn’t it nice to have a label for something you’ve already been doing?? I hope you have some information about why process-based art is so good for the kiddos. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping in and leaving me a note — made my day!
Kristen @ Art History Mom says
March 28, 2014 at 12:52 pmThank you for the informative post. I am such a traditionalist when it comes to art, so I found your information to be very helpful and look forward to implementing process art at home with the kids.
You mentioned art history as one of the ways process art can help children. I’d love for you to expand upon that point.
Thanks again!
Mary Catherine says
April 3, 2014 at 4:04 pmKristen, thanks so much for stopping by. I’m glad you’re taking some ideas away from this post! 🙂 I definitely want to delve into some of the specifics I mentioned — like art history, literacy, etc. One idea is to choose a focus artist for an activity. You can read about the artist, look at pictures of his/her work, etc. Then teach the children some of the techniques that artist used. After that, provide the kiddos with some art materials like what the artist used and let them explore the artists’ techniques. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!
Ann @ My Nearest and Dearest says
March 29, 2014 at 7:57 pmGreat post, Mary Catherine! I love that picture of the little guy hanging over the ledge to draw on the cardboard! My son, at 3.5, is very much into process art. I get a lot of enjoyment watching him create. All the imagination, problem solving, and storytelling that goes on is just fascinating. I do know children however that respond much more to crafts, in that they like to create with an end goal in mind. While I am a huge advocate of process art, I appreciate that you didn’t completely disregard crafts and the benefits of doing them. The caterpillar craft you talked about is a perfect example of how to marry the two approaches.
Looking forward to reading the resources you included. 🙂
Mary Catherine says
April 3, 2014 at 4:09 pmThank you, Ann!!! 🙂 That picture makes me laugh every time! I loved seeing him try the activity out from a different angle! I agree with your comment on different children being interested in different things. Some have an end goal, while others just want to enjoy the experience. I didn’t want to disregard crafts at all, as they really do have a place in learning and creating. I just focus on process-based crafts as much as I can when we delve into crafts. Thanks so much for your kind words . . . as always!!
Megan @ Teaching Every Day says
April 9, 2014 at 8:58 amI love this! It seems like there is a big focus on cute preschool crafts, but little kids need the opportunity to explore and create art on their own terms. The process of creating is important and fun…even if the product doesn’t turn out to be Pinterest-worthy. 🙂
Emma @ P is for Preschooler says
April 13, 2014 at 9:01 amAll of my daughter’s art is still process art. She enjoys it so who am I to say she should do it differently? Thanks for reminding me all she’s getting out of doing it her own way! 🙂
Mary Catherine says
May 14, 2014 at 11:41 pmI just love watching my son and my students as they create their own art! Thanks, as always, for your kind words Emma.
Cindy @ The Art Class Curator says
May 3, 2014 at 12:54 amI love this! I used to teach elementary art, and those moments where the kid sat their in front of a blank paper in fear were the worst. I always encouraged them to slap some paint down, rip their paper in two, or something to free their mind and just have fun with it! I know a teacher is doing it right when all of the art projects look different. The messier, the better!
I just found your blog. Love your site!
Mary Catherine says
May 14, 2014 at 11:47 pmThanks so much, Cindy! I am always amazed at what the children can create when encouraged to get into art. 🙂
Marilyn says
March 20, 2017 at 8:28 pmI am such a believer in process over product. I want it to be “their ” artwork NOT MINE. Unfortunately, many teachers are only interested in what looks cute to show the parents and they actually “correct” their student’s work. Great article
Mary Catherine says
March 20, 2017 at 9:59 pmThanks so much, Marilyn! I loooooove seeing all the amazing artwork kiddos can create!
MaryAnn Faubion Kohl says
March 25, 2017 at 3:01 pmThank you a million times for your post. It’s interesting to me, that when I first starting coining a phrase for exploratory art as “process art”, I had no idea it would become a movement. I’m so thrilled.. And you have NAILED IT!! We are all a team for the benefit of kids and their worth.
Mary Catherine says
March 25, 2017 at 7:30 pmMaryAnn, you are so awesome for taking a moment to leave such kind words! Thank you. 🙂 You have definitely inspired so many educators and parents to let kiddos explore their own creativity.
Chris says
February 22, 2019 at 3:22 pmWow, Mary Catherine – you basically got MaryAnn Kohl’s autograph here!! I was so excited when I read her post. 🙂
I loved your article, too, by the way! The thing I love best about that photograph of the boy leaning over the wall to draw on the cardboard is that it looks like he’s using a PERMANENT MARKER!
We use colored Sharpies occasionally in my preschool class, when the materials we’re working with won’t hold washable ink. Most of the children are excited to use them; a few are a bit afraid to break their parents’ rule about never using permanent markers (I can only imagine the orange streaks on the beige sofa, the purple scribbles on the wall or the green mustache on the baby that led to this kind of edict!). We talk about using the markers carefully, and only on the art materials –not on people, furniture or walls–and not at home, since that is the rule there. They end up having a lot of fun and are filled with pride at having used such grown-up materials.
Mary Catherine says
February 25, 2019 at 10:04 amI definitely squealed when I read her response, Chris! She is such a wonderful person, in general, too. 🙂 YES, he is indeed using a permanent marker. I’ve mostly worked with kindergarten and pre-k kids, so they’ve all been in the 4 to 6 year old range. And man do they LOVE using permanent markers. Like you, I make sure we review the rules about using them (and I always stress that my rules are for the classroom and their parents’ rules must be listened to at home). In all the years I’ve allowed their use, I’ve never once had an issue with a child using them inappropriately. There have been the occasional accident when the paper is missed a small line gets on the table – but I do that myself. And like you said, the kids feel so important to be entrusted with grown-up materials.