The Language of Learning: The Arts and School Readiness

Early childhood education is a crucial component in promoting school readiness, particularly children at risk. In the short term, children involved in early learning programs are better able to follow directions, problem solve, and join in activities, all important skills when they enter kindergarten. Long term, quality early childhood programs have been found to increase high school graduation rates and decrease unemployment. In fact, every $1 invested in high quality early childhood programs saves the taxpayer $7. Yet the question remains how all children, and especially those who need it most, can best be impacted duing these important early years.
Within this data, the arts hold a special place in addressing the issues of school readiness and the achievement gap:

- The arts provide an ideal environment for learning because the entire body is engaged, and events are registered by several senses - so important for stimulating memory!

- The arts also benefit diverse learners, as there are multiple ways of learning core cognitive skills.

- The hands-on nature of arts-based education is perfectly suited to young learners, and its accessibility allows culturally and liguistically diverse groups of children to particpate and be successful.

In short, the arts have a unique power in promoting the skills necesary for all children to suceed in school.

At the Children’s Art Centre, our new Arts in Early Learning Series classes harness this power to use the arts as a language of learning. Our unique classses were created using the Massachusetts Early Learning Frameworks, and integrate core subjects into every activity in fun and innovative ways. Arts in Early Learning classes promote the school readiness skills children need in a creative, social environment, and together, they align with the Children’s Art Centre’s goal to place the arts at the core of every child’s education, from the very beginning.

Spotlight On: New CAC Programming

The Children’s Art Centre is excited to begin two new programs this fall! Learn more about our new class offerings for preschoolers and teens.

Teen Art in the South End

The Boston Center for the Arts and the Children’s Art Centre have come together to engage youth with workshops that foster an appreciation for the arts and that serve as a national model of sucessful neighborhood engagement. Teen Art in the South End is a FREE program open to youth ages 12-15 and will involve gallery visits, art making, conversations with artists in the community, and more.

In the program’s Fall Session, Focus on Drawing, Students will examine how artists use drawings in preliminary stages of the creative process to convey an idea.
Registration is currently open for our teen programming. Visit www.uses.org to learn more!

Arts in Early Learning Series

The Arts in Early Learning Series are comprised of three new classes for children ages 2.5-4.5 and their parents or caregivers. These innovative classes use the arts to meet developmental benchmarks across the early childhood curriculum.

Rhythm & Rhyme In this creative movement and music class, we will wiggle our bodies to the beat while building understanding of space, patterns, our bodies, and how things move. We will work together to create a rhythm band, and learn about science and weather by dancing out our very own rainstorm.

Uncover & Discover In this sensory exploration class, art meets science as we explore our senses and explore interesting new materials that encourage preschoolers to develop descriptive language and inquiry skills, and experiment with properties of math and volume.

Stories & Stage In this dramatic play class, our imaginations will run wild as we build verbal skills through collaborative storytelling and puppet theater activites. Children will build their self-confidence and try on new roles, learning about different jobs that make up our community as our space transforms into a toy store, science lab, community garden, and more!

We believe that art is more than “cute craft projects” - it enhances the way children learn! Registration is now open for these unique new classes. Visit www.uses.org to register and learn more.