10/30/2026
Trash to Treasure:
When I removed this big piece of paper from our art table, the kids asked if they could use it. So, I made some room to put it on the floor for them and then asked what their ideas were. They immediately went to work collecting supplies.
This resulting floor mural was a spontaneous group project the kids - 6 boys - ages 4 & 5 - created on the (almost) discarded paper using stickers, paint sticks, tempera paint and a little bit of imagination.
They turned it over on the "clean" side. Then one child drew people and a road, another drew his mom "with the baby inside", another drew a heart with his name, and another created a "blue world".
Then another child suggested that they cut it and make a puzzle out of it (a BRILLIANT idea by the way...) and that got the attention of the child across the room who was playing with dinosaurs - (and who LOVES scissors) and then all 6 of them came over to ask if they could use scissors. I keep a few pairs accessible to the kids on the art table - and I told them to help themselves. They always confirm with me first what is getting cut up. They were so excited when I said that they could cut up the floor mural - as long as they all agreed it was OK to cut up their work.
We teach them to respect other's work and not destroy something another friend is working on unless they ask permission first. The kids solved this by only cutting the edges and their own work. This was a solution that they came up with unprompted and uncoached.
This piece of paper and the open-ended creative process engaged them for about 40 minutes - which is amazing for a group of active boys. I supervised and observed but didn't set up, instruct or prompt. They created, complimented each other, shared supplies and cleaned up when they were done (THAT I did prompt them on!)
We hung up the pieces on our wall - like a "Puzzle Collage" - and they notice and tell me something about it every day.
So what was really happening here?
There are SO many skills being practiced, all unprompted and from a single idea.
While the children thought they were simply creating a mural, I observed that they were also practicing collaboration, communication, problem-solving, planning, decision-making, fine motor skills, creativity, persistence, flexibility, independence, and self-expression.
When the idea to turn the mural into a puzzle emerged, they negotiated, respected each other's work, developed a plan, and adjusted it to meet everyone's needs. They generated solutions independently, shared materials, encouraged one another, and remained deeply engaged in a project they designed themselves.
This is one of the many reasons I love child-led, open-ended creative experiences. When children are given the freedom to explore their own ideas, in a child-centered, open-ended environment, learning becomes joyful, meaningful, and unforgettable.
I saw a piece of used table paper - and they saw the possibility and ran with it.
I so love working with these kids!
💖
