Playing with Process Art, The Power of Open-Ended Art

Playing with Process Art: The Power of Open-Ended Art for Young Children | Free Training

Note: This training is from our archive when we were Fairy Dust Teaching – we’re now Wunderled! (Same Sally, same heart for child-led learning, new name).

What’s the difference between process art and craft? In this free masterclass, early childhood educator Sally Haughey walks you through everything you need to know about play-based, open-ended art making – and why it matters so much for child development.

In this training, you’ll discover:
→ The key distinctions between process art and craft-based art
→ The 5 domains of process art (drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and clay)
→ The 4 big benefits of process art: Connection, Communication, Curiosity & Concrete (physical) growth
→ How process art prepares children for reading and writing
→ Tried-and-true art activities organized by developmental stage
→ How to check your own “product hook” and honor the child’s process

What is process art?
Process art is open-ended art making where there’s no predetermined outcome, no sample to copy, and all decisions are made by the child. It encourages risk-taking, creativity, and self-expression – and it’s one of the most powerful ways to support young children’s development.

Why does process art matter?
Process art builds fine motor skills, supports emotional regulation, develops pre-literacy skills, expands vocabulary, and nurtures critical thinking. As Sally says, “The presence is in the process,” you can see where a child is developmentally when they have full autonomy in their art making.
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Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction to process art
2:06 Process art vs craft-based art
6:28 The 5 domains of process art
7:03 “The presence is in the process”
14:28 Questions to check your attachments
17:04 What to expect with process art
18:30 The 4 C’s: Benefits of process art
22:59 Cognitive growth benefits
25:40 Physical development benefits
28:03 Drawing activities by stage
30:58 Painting activities by stage
33:23 Sculpture activities by stage
36:18 Printmaking activities
38:01 Clay activities by stage
42:12 Final thoughts
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