At Weaver Child Development Center, people often ask us, “What is an Atelier?” In short, it is an art studio where the students have their dedicated art class. But at Weaver, it is so much more than just an art room. The Atelier is the heartbeat of our school.
A kid’s atelier is a place where students can expand their emotional, social, and cognitive skills through hands-on learning. It is an integral part of a child’s holistic development.
In this blog post, we’ll talk more about a Reggio Emilia atelier. We’ll also dive into what that looks like at Weaver CDC, and the importance of art for all children.
What is an Atelier?
Atelier is a French word that means “art studio” or “workshop.” A Reggio Emilia atelier is more than just an art room. The studio is a specially designed space for children to explore, create, and express themselves with their “hundred languages.”
Unlike a traditional school art room, the kids atelier invites the children in with its thoughtful design. Natural light fills the space, the teacher chose the mediums with care, and the provocation stations encourage discovery.
In a Reggio Emilia approach, the classroom is the third teacher. In the atelier, the space helps the children along their learning journey.
Inside the Kids Atelier at Weaver CDC
At Weaver CDC, the atelier is an integral part of our Reggio-inspired learning environment. Every Monday, the students spend around 45 to 60 minutes of studio time with our atelierista, Miss Amanda. Students explore projects that occupy the period or work on ongoing projects.
In the kid’s atelier, students work with many types of art materials. They create projects with paints, pencils, clay, textiles, wire, wood, natural items, words, and more! The studio is always open to teachers and students throughout the rest of the week as needed too.
Keeping a space beautiful and tending to the spaces we value is important. But it is even more important to keep spaces alive and be ones that you’ll use. While the atelier may look too perfect to touch sometimes, we actively encouraged leaving the room messy! (Another reason students keep a change of clothes here!)
The Atelierista
Every Reggio Emilia atelier needs an atelierista. This is a teacher who learns alongside the students in their artistic journey. We truly feel blessed to have such an incredible atelierista, Miss Amanda. She supports and guides the students along their creative path.
Miss Amanda is the Education Director at the Canton Museum of Art. She works there when she’s not in the Weaver CDC Atelier.
She has a BA in Art History from Kent State University. She also has BS in Elementary Education from Thiel College. Miss Amanda has had wonderful experiences in museum education, early childhood art, and teaching throughout her career. She knows the benefits of art education and uses her skills in our atelier.
Miss Amanda goes beyond art with what she teaches in the atelier. She understands the importance of art in building relationships and connections with the students, the other teachers, and parents. As a Reggio Emilia atelierista, Miss Amanda provides a unique experience for our kids at Weaver CDC.
Art and Child Development
One cannot overstate the importance of art in early childhood. Research shows that the benefits of art education go far beyond creativity. Art helps children grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.
Creating art is important for a child’s physical development. When children draw, sculpt, or collage, they strengthen the muscles in their hands, building those important fine motor skills for everyday tasks, like writing.
The Reggio Emilia atelier is a place of exploration where children share ideas, think critically, and solve problems. Art invites curiosity. It is in these curious moments with themselves, other students, and the atelierista help kids grow their confidence and strengthen relationships.
Through art, children have a space to express their feelings that they might not have the words for yet. A lot of research shows the benefits of art education on emotional regulation.
Overall, the Reggio Emilia Atelier nurtures a child’s development: mind, body, and spirit. Making art is not just fun, it is an essential part of healthy development.
Reggio Inspired Learning
The Reggio Emilia atelier is not just an extracurricular, it is an essential part of learning The studio is a place of freedom and true self-expression for all students. They can explore their creativity and ambitions meaningfully with others.
At Weaver CDC, our atelier is more than a studio. The space is a community, a source of inspiration, and the essence of Reggio Emilia.
Visit the Atelier!
Want to learn more or even explore our atelier? Contact us and schedule a tour of Weaver CDC today!