Process versus product in preschool art, a Halloween project

This is a super easy Homeschool Halloween craft you can do with your preschoolers.  All you need is a printer and some markers, or paint because my kids are super into paint.

{This post contains affiliate links marked with an *}

We read Clifford’s Halloween* and decided to make our own costumes for Clifford.  I headed over to PBS Kids Clifford page, and printed off their Clifford coloring page.  Then I asked the kids what costume their Clifford is going to wear.

I wrote down their answers and they traced the label with markers.  This made for a sneaky way for my kids to practice their handwriting (which sad to say as I edit this several years later, my boys still need to work on theirs)

Then they happily painted their papers.

While they did that, I cleaned my coat closet.  Which I’d show you a picture of, but my computer ate it.  Darn it.

Of course, the end result of their Clifford’s Halloween project was black blobs, but they thoroughly enjoyed themselves as they painted.

So, let’s take a moment to discuss process versus product

Generally speaking, when my kids are in preschool my goal is for them to work on the process and come to enjoy art, so in the process versus product fight, I fall in the process category for this age.  Looking back 6 years later I’ve achieved the results I wanted.  I now have three kids who enjoy the process of art, and when necessary can follow directions to create a great-looking product.  I will say, they have a tendency to focus on their process and their vision.  They have a very strong vision.  But, I don’t mind that.  It means they are involved in the process.

But, there does come a time when you do need to focus on the product occasionally, and I would strongly recommend waiting as long as you can to worry about the end result.  It wasn’t until the last year or so (my kids are now 10 and 8) that I’ve worried too much about the product, and it’s pretty rare that I do.  Otherwise, we focus on the process and learning the skill.

So, that’s my mini-sermon on process versus product.

However, if you’d like some more traditional Halloween projects that turned out a bit more recognizable than our fabulous Clifford’s Halloween black lumps, then check out my rather cute Halloween Pinterest board.

Follow Ticia Adventures in Mommydom’s board Halloween on Pinterest.