Early StARTS Program
This joint effort between the Maine Arts Commission and the Department of Human Services, Office of Child Care and Head Start, highlights the importance of quality arts education for preschool age children and ensures that there is a focus on arts education within early childhood education programs in Maine. The Early StARTS initiative promotes the use of all the arts disciplines through 1) professional development opportunities for early childhood educators and care providers, 2) networking and resource lists, 3) artist-in-residence programs, and 4) conferences.
Early StARTS grants, administered through Maine Roads to Quality and
the Muskie School for Public Policy, are available to bring artists
into child care sites. For guidelines and an application form contact:
Amy Sullivan, Maine Roads to Quality, Muskie School/USM, PO Box 15010,
Portland, ME 04112, Ph: 780-5832 or asulliva@usm.maine.edu.
14 great ways to boost
a child’s creative spirit!
- Provide child-safe and age-appropriate arts materials (dress up clothes, crayons,
paper, clay, scissors, glue, music and more).
- Dance and sing together – follow your child’s movement and copy his tune or sounds.
- Display her artwork or writing at a level she can see.
- Act out stories with your child.
- Listen to different kids of music together.
- Focus on his initiated expressions and activities rather than pre-packaged activities.
- Get messy – and clean up together.
- Read stories aloud and use “character voices.” Encourage her to join in.
- Get down to your child’s level to look and see from his point of view.
- Sing and make up songs together.
- Recognize and celebrate your child’s discoveries.
- Provide opportunities for groups of children to create together.
- Organize and chaperone field trips to museums, concerts or plays.
- Write a letter to the editor of your newspaper or an article for a newsletter about how the arts are important to you and your children.
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