Laughing Kids Learn

Where learning is made fun

Exploring Tin Foil

by 15 Comments

 
Process vs product
So what does that mean? It basically boils down to placing a greater value on the experience a child achieves rather than the actual finished product. 
 
We can often get caught in the trap of asking children to complete an activity in order to reach a final product. Instead, we can try and focus more on the process (or experience) that is achieved, which is so important for children. 
 
 
 
 
Many sensory type activities focus on learning from the process rather than a product. Debs from Learn with Play at Home created a great post that explored this called ‘Single Colour Paint Exploration‘.
 
Here is an activity that I did with Possum that focuses on the process rather than the final product. 
 
We simply pasted pieces of tin foil to paper using craft glue. 
 
Valuing process over product in this activity for children using Foil
 
Possum was asked to tear up the tin foil into little pieces and place them into the bowl. 
This task created a multi-sensory experience (sight, sound, texture), which was quite unique to anything I’d given her before. Asking Possum lots of questions and highlighting simple observations allowed her to think and deepen her learning experience. 
 
Valuing process over product in this activity for children using Foil
 
To keep the small pieces of tin foil together I placed them all in a bowl. Possum, curious and eager to experiment, began blowing into the bowl of tin foil. She loved watching the light material scatter and fall. Many child occupational therapist rave about the benefits of children using their breath to help development. 
Valuing process over product in this activity for children using Foil Valuing process over product in this activity for children using Foil
Possum was asked to add glue to the paper, where ever she chose, and stick on the tin foil. The temptation to touch the glue was too great and she learnt more about cause and effect. That being, if you touch glue your fingers will get sticky (LOL). This activity was also wonderful in developing skills in fine motor control too!
 
Valuing process over product in this activity for children using Foil
 
It wasn’t long before she realised that she could simply grab large handfuls of tin foil pieces and dump them over the page. Of course some parts touched the glue and other parts did not. Possum simply enjoyed playing with the tin foil pieces, scrunching some bits and flattening others, and covering bits with glue. 
Valuing process over product in this activity for children using Foil

The activity continued and Possum enjoy the experience of pressing, hitting and sliding various pieces of tin foil across the page. 

Must – resist – the – temptation!
I have to confess something – I’m a bit of a perfectionist and like things to be done a certain way/ There were many times during this activity that I felt I wanted to instruct her to change what she was doing, add pieces to different areas, make sure each piece had enough glue etc but I had to hold back. This was her own learning experience and I wasn’t to interfere and make what she was doing into something that I felt would work better or create a better looking outcome. Kate from Picklebums wrote a great blog post called ‘Let go and create’ which is worth reading. 

 
Valuing process over product in this activity for children using Foil
 
Our family fridge will always proudly display Possum’s work regardless of the focus being on the process or product. To us, it’s about being proud of her learning journey and the effort she puts in to all that she does.
 
Just for fun, the following images (below) are examples of quite the opposite to what I’ve been discussing, where the piece has a stronger focus possibly more on the final product than the process. In my opinion it’s important to provide a balance of both! 🙂 
 
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this blog post and learnt something new. 
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Comments

  1. Loreena says

    Oh I’m so guilty of guiding and hovering, although I am very conscious of it. My eldest is 10, and I’ve noticed such a shift in his willingness to just let himself be free to create. Instead of just drawing or painting he’s now very conscious of the fact what he creates may not be “true to life”. To help him understand the realities that art is all about expression and doesn’t have to be a pure replication of what we see, but can be conceptual, we’ve been watching the “Work of Art” documentary here on SBS on Demand, it’s been a great way for him to see that all people create differently and no single way is wrong or right. It’s lovely just to let kids create and be what they wish, even though sometimes as parents that pushes our own comfort levels (although I’m still not sure why it does).

    Reply

    • Kate Lloyd says

      Thanks for your wonderful comments Loreena. Hovering while Possum is creating has become something that I’ve really noticed myself do more of as her competencies grow. Hopefully my awareness of it helps me to stop doing it and allow her to have her freedom.
      I had no idea about the documentary on the SBS. Thanks for letting me know about it because I’d be interested to try and track it down online maybe. What a great way to teach your child. Thank you again for your comments Loreena. 🙂

      Reply

  2. Zoe says

    What a fun idea! I also want to hover, especially since we have a dog who likes to investigate. I have started to back away more as long as my daughter is safe and the dog can’t intervene. The only time I really hover is during meal times because not every food is dog-friendly. But even with that, I’ve changed the menus so when the food does fall on the floor, I don’t have to worry! Thanks so much for blogging about this idea! I can’t wait to try it out!

    Reply

    • Kate Lloyd says

      Thanks Zoe for your comment. I would be totally hovering too if creative time involved a dog. LOL
      I’d love to hear how you go with this activity and my fingers are crossed you’ll find more you like to do with your daughter. 🙂

      Reply

  6. pauline@lessonslearntjournal.com says

    I love this hands on exploration Kate. Foil is such a fun material to work with; and glue… well, you can’t go wrong with glue. I find my kids value their work more when it’s process led rather than product orientated. They can tell me more about it, etc. (P.S. Thanks for the reference to the OT’s view on breath to help development. Most insightful.) xo P

    Reply

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