Skill development and Art

    Know that arts and crafts develop different skills. Arts and crafts develop different developmental skills. Art activities develop feeling skills and promote self-expression. Craft activities develop thinking, relating, and coordinating skills. These skill arenas overlap, but it’s valuable to separate them and understand the difference when you work with children. When preparing for an art activity, ask yourself what you need to focus on: Is it relationship building, self expression, cognitive skills, or coordination? Once you establish the focus, you can decide whether an art activity or a craft activity is most appropriate.