Creativity & Self-Expression

Art allows children to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas in uniquely meaningful ways. According to NAEYC, “process art… helps children grow in their expressive language, nurture social and emotional development, and encourage thinking skills.” By engaging with open-ended materials, children articulate themselves beyond words, building essential communication skills in the process.

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Cognitive, Motor & Academic Development

Art fosters fine motor control, spatial reasoning, memory, and attention. These are skills fundamental to early learning. Studies summarized by the National Endowment for the Arts show strong links between arts participation and improved outcomes in language, math, and social-emotional development, even in preschoolers. Moreover, art education supports executive functions like planning and flexible thinking.

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Emotional Resilience & Social Connection

The NEA reports that arts participation helps young children regulate emotions, develop empathy, and form positive social bonds. Multiple studies confirm that children who engage in arts demonstrate greater social competence and pro-social behavior.

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Developmentally Appropriate & Engaging

NAEYC promotes process art—open-ended, child-driven creative exploration—over product-centric tasks. This method supports agency, curiosity, language development, and cognitive engagement. When children focus on the process rather than the outcome, they develop a sense of self-regulation, confidence, and imaginative risk-taking.

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Montessori Philosophy & Artistic Integration

Montessori education emphasizes independence, concentration, and a prepared environment that nurtures self-directed learning. Art fits seamlessly within this framework, not as an add-on, but as a core facet of discovery. In fact, AMS suggests that integrating the work of a specific artist or movement can anchor cross-disciplinary learning in science, language, culture, and practical life.

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How Parkside Brings the Arts to Life

Open Access During Work Periods

Within our Montessori environment, children have continuous access to diverse art materials such as paints, clay, collage supplies, natural objects, during their work periods. This freedom encourages exploration, sensory engagement, and self-expression in a nonjudgmental setting.

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Specialized Art Program

Beyond day-to-day access, our dedicated art program introduces children to:

• Art History in a Meaningful Way: Through stories and visuals, children learn about artists and movements, enriching their understanding of art’s cultural roots.

• Fundamental Concepts: The curriculum gently introduces color theory, line, texture, form appropriate to each child's developmental stage.

• Varied Mediums & Techniques: From finger painting to printmaking, drawing to sculpting, children engage with a range of media, nurturing curiosity and versatility.