11.10: Conclusion

The arts take on different meanings and expressions for individuals and communities. Therefore, this chapter recognizes that the arts will materialize and thrive in ways individual to each child and to the early childhood setting. This curriculum framework serves as a starting point and reference for teachers and child care providers to shape how the arts can be orchestrated or simply unleashed, as well as integrated, with other early learning experiences. Each arts strand (visual art, music, drama, and dance) is given attention; suggested teaching strategies, interactions, and environmental supports are illustrated with vignettes. However, within each strand there are numerous opportunities to weave two or more of the four art forms into the learning environment. More importantly, there are opportunities to integrate the arts in the other domains such as physical development, science, mathematics, and language and literacy.

It is essential to keep in mind that teachers serve diverse groups of children. The interactions between the home and school are mutual and mutually important. Diversity is an essential quality of human existence, and the creative arts provide excellent opportunities to learn, understand, and express diversity.^[1]