The beginning of the school year is a great time for children to explore creating self portraits and for parents or educators to observe. A child's self-portrait can reveal and support many things. As with any art, it shows the development of a child's fine motor, observation, focusing skills, self awareness, and creativity. It also can give insight into a child's self-concept and identity. In other words, it is the best way for a grown-up to see a child through that child's own eye.
We Are All Works of Art by Mark Sperring is a beautiful book that honors diversity by showcasing masterpieces that celebrated how we’re all works of art in our own special way! Reading this book a great way to communicate the beauty in all our differences and open up their minds for the invitation to create their own self portraits.
For the invitation to create a self portrait you will need dry erase markers, acrylic mirror, plexi or plastic clear divider. Invite the child to look at themselves in the mirror and ask them to draw their own self portrait on the clear canvas. You can also just use the mirror as the canvas.
Self portraits are introspective. By exploring their “me-ness” (Loris Malaguzzi) children are learning a great deal about themselves and are enhancing various skills as they develop their observational, expressive and reflective skills. In exploring their identity children build positive reciprocal relationships with one another as well as a positive relationship with themselves and believing they are all works of art!
