Arts and the Child
Arts and the Childcross-culturaland natureEvery child is born with an innate love for singing, painting, and dancing—yet societal pressures often suppress this creative spark at an early age. rekindles that joy while empowering students to nurture the next generation. Through a blend of theory, hands-on art making, and community engagement, this program explores how the arts foster resilience, learning, and holistic development in children.
Program Highlights
Learning Modalities
Who Should Enroll?
Deepenthrough nature and artearth-connectedlocal and globalFuture educators, parents, artists, and advocates seeking to: ✓ creativity and health . ✓ Design inclusive, learning environments. ✓ Build bridges between communities.
Logistics
Key QuestionHow can reclaiming creativity rooted in nature, culture, art, and community help our children and us thrive in a fractured world?:
- Cultural Wisdomtime-honored: Learn Eastern (e.g., Chinese calligraphy, Indian mandala arts) and progressive (Waldorf, Montessori) approaches, alongside Western and Indigenous traditions, to arts-based education and ecological awareness.
- Developmental Scienceoutdoor play: Track children’s growth from conception through adolescence, examining how rhythm, movement, , and nutrition shape cognitive and emotional health.
- Transformative Practiceguerrilla gardeningglobal: Weekly art and journaling, studio work, and field experiences (including , nature observation, and volunteering with youth) merge personal creativity with community partnerships.
- Hybrid remote format: 4 hrs/week of live seminars (Zoom) + 16 hrs of independent research, art projects, and reflection (Canvas).
- and grassroots/international partnersCollaborative projects with peers (e.g., pen-pal art exchanges with schools abroad).
- e.g., watercolors, natural clayMaterials: Textbook + basic art supplies ().
- Credits: 4 (Childhood Education), 2 (Health Practices), 2 (Arts in Early Childhood).