Drawing as an encounter with materials in early childhood education spaces

Some early childhood educators believe that if they provide rich materials for young children, children’s creativity and art will naturally follow and grow. However, materials themselves are not a magical provocation for young children’s artmaking. When young children and educators engage with materials, the materials may become magical and their exchanges may enable a respectful and mindful pedagogical learning space. When educators, children and materials interact with each other, ask questions, listen to each other and share their thoughts and wonderings, the space may transform into collective, collaborative and pedagogical.