Too much stress on technical procedure in a ceramics class can inhibit elementary students' free inquiry. It should be remembered that ceramics is a form of visual art and that art is a form of expression. Teachers must help students express themselves. (RM)

This book is intended as a guide for parents, teachers, and others interested in developing creative art talent in young people. The book is based on the following assumptions: (1) being able to recognize and knowing how to identify creative individuals with special talent in art, guidance can be given to maximize the achievement of their…

Analysis of drawings by 26 children indicated striking contrasts in subject matter and style between girls and boys, but did not present stereotyped images of sex roles. The contrasts could not be specifically attributed to genetic, social, or psychological differences between the sexes. (MJL)

This article is concerned with the representational paintings and drawings of six- to nine-year-old children in which human relationships and interactions are central to subject matter. As a rule, children at this age are thought to be at the height of their curiosity and imaginative powers. (Author/KC)

As an example of the insights into creativity and cultural influences which may be gained by analyzing children's spontaneous play, the authors present a case study from Jamaica, where they observed young boys making their own toy trucks. (SJL)

Discusses two broad stages of children's drawing--scribbling and representation--and the phases of each stage that children will pass through as they develop. Provides suggestions for supporting children's early drawing development. (HTH)

Investigated the development of individual style in 3- to 10-year-old children's drawings. Assessed about one-third of children as having distinctive styles; these children were most frequently younger and showed higher aesthetic and creativity ratings in their drawings. Considered the probable sequence in children's development of artistic style.…

Investigated the effects of menarche on the continuity of adolescent girls' drawing styles. Found that individual styles over a 4-year period were discernible across 6-month intervals but not when the interval spanned menarche, indicating a discontinuity related to developmental transitions. (JPB)

The current study focuses on data collected from children in the United States shortly after the Yugoslavia-NATO conflict. Fifty-six children in two Midwestern states were asked to draw a picture of peace and a picture of war. Two major themes, peace as interpersonal interactions and peace as negative peace, emerged from the qualitative analysis…

Described is an art activity in which sixth graders were asked to draw something that they hear. The children created aural pictures that were truly inventive personal interpretations. (RM)

Approximately 524 children, grades K-5, were asked to draw a plain or designed cube. At all grade levels, the plain cube was represented as a square with far greater frequency than was the designed cube. Perspective drawings, attempted and achieved, were more frequent for the plain cube. (Author/RM)

This theme issue of "InSEA News" is about children's art exhibitions and their cultural and educational contexts. The authors, from Canada, Australia, the United States, and Scotland, offer a variety of viewpoints about why, where, when, and how children's art exhibitions should be displayed. Issues discussed include who designs the…

Discusses how Franz Cizek, the first proponent of the hands-on approach to childrens' art education, influenced the direction of twentieth century art education. The author points out that, although Cizek's theories profoundly influenced other educators, he himself never actually applied them in his own classes. (AM)

Drawing on the Kreilters' work with the psychology of adult artists, the authors show how children's story drawings develop the same four types of realities: origins, everyday experiences, normative realities (rules), and prophetic (anticipatory) realities. Illustrations are included. (SJL)

This article reviews the major principles of Piaget's stage theory of cognitive development (equilibrium, structure, and scheme); outlines his two stages that best characterize elementary children (preoperational thought and concrete operations); and describes features of the child's artistic growth during these two stages. Questions needing…