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The therapeutic benefits of art and craft activities in preparing children for school
Marketplace Editor
Dec 10, 2024
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Far more than just a fun way to pass the time, art and craft activities have a number of important roles to play in the early learning of a child, particularly as they prepare to move rooms within their early learning setting, start at a new service, or head off to school.
With many educators and parents navigating these types of big transitions in 2025, it’s important to reflect on the benefits of creative activities when it comes to children’s social and emotional learning.Studies have shown that participating in art and craft activities provides a unique and special way to address the social and emotional challenges transitions can cause.
The experts at early learning supply partner Winc Education have created an art and craft range to support educators to offer stimulating art and craft options to the children in their care, helping them to manage these transitions with ease.
Supporting children with transitions
In the early years of childhood, transitions - whether in long day care, family day care, preschool or outside school hours care - can be challenging.
Some types of transitions include: moving between rooms, having educators leave or start at their service, starting at a new service, or leaving early learning to start school.
While these transitions can occur at many points throughout the year, they are most common when a new year begins. Sometimes these transitions can be exciting for children. Sometimes they can be challenging.
Educators can try the following tips to help children to navigate transitions:
- Prepare the environment: Knowing that transition times can be complicated, educators can prepare the environment, ready for the children. This can be small things, such as ensuring that not too many children are sent to the bathroom at once to wash their hands (leading to frustration while waiting) to big things, such as having activities and spaces set up to welcome children into the room.
Studies have shown that a prepared environment is a core determinant of encouraging a love of learning, independence, exploration and experiments among children.
- Learn about the children coming in: When children are preparing to move to a new room, for example, educators should conduct a handover with previous educators, to learn about the child and their family.
Solid relationships and understanding of differing family needs are a core determinant of successful transition, either within early learning, or when moving off to school.
- Work with families: Families will often have mixed feelings about change. Even things which seem minor for educators, such as the layout of the room, can cause stress or anxiety for families. Wherever possible, working closely with families to understand their needs can help them to feel more supported, and ready to navigate change.
Research has shown that sensitively managing these changes helps children to have a more successful transition experience.
Art and craft activities can be a simple way to welcome children during times of transition.
Whether it’s making a collage of favourite foods using recycled magazines, or painting a picture of their favourite toy, Winc Education has a range of products including papers, pencils, paints and more to ensure that tools for creativity are always close to hand.
How can families support?
For families, ‘stepping into the unknown’ can leave them with questions, worries, or needing additional support to navigate change.
The team at Starting Blocks have the following tips for families to support with transitions:
- Keep conversation channels open: Allow children to talk about their feelings. Feel free to ask questions. Ask educators to provide additional support and information as needed.
- Work together: Think about the end goal of having happy and settled children, and work out a plan to get there.
- Share information back and forth: Families should share information about their child’s wants,needs and interests.
For educators, art and craft activities can be a fun and ‘low stress’ way to build these connections with families. Inviting children to participate in open ended art and craft activities supports not only their creative process, but also helps educators to learn a little more about them.
For families, receiving art and craft projects from their child’s early learning setting can help them to feel more connected to the service, and the educators in it.
Social and emotional skill development
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of a child navigating transitions is their capacity to interact with others, to seek help when required, and to develop the skills of self regulation which will allow them to navigate unexpected situations and the demands of working within a group.
Somewhat surprisingly to some, art and craft can help here too. When children engage in art and craft activities, they are expressing themselves in a unique way, which contributes to them developing a sense of self, and their individuality.
Art and craft activities also promote emotional expression - from the brightest yellows to the darkest browns, the colours and shapes children choose to work with tell a story.
Problem solving, taking on challenges and ‘having a go’ are also important aspects of art and craft experiences, which also support children in other academic areas.
Streamlining creativity
The team at Winc Education has gone above and beyond to make the world of art and craft an accessible one for early learning services.
Everything from paint to crayons, to colourful paper to pre-cut designs, by trusted brands like Faber-Castell, Bostik, Staedtler, Spirax, Micador and Crayola, is available in the one place, saving time, effort and energy.
To support services even further, Winc Education have developed a range of activity plans, all linked with the EYLF, which explain what you’ll need, what to do, and the benefits of the activity.
All activity plans are linked with key dates in the ECEC calendar such as Harmony Day, or with core themes, such as sustainability.
Winc Education has a range of options to support
With a collection of over 300 of the most popular and commonly used products ready for next day delivery (in most areas of Australia), and a range of more than 2,000 products in total, Winc has a long history of providing specific solutions for early learning centres.
“At Winc Education, we look after early learning centres every day by providing deep sector insights, cost-effective solutions and specialist products delivered with the responsiveness and reliability your centre needs,” Katie Mystakidis, Head of Education said.
“With one of the largest distribution networks in the country, we deliver what you need when you need it, freeing you up to do what you do best – caring for children.”
To learn more about the Winc Education Art & Craft range or request a call from one of Winc’s dedicated Education Account Managers please visit the website, here.
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