Ana Velazquez

My art piece is of a young girl with no facial characteristics such as eyes, mouth and nose. There are no facial characteristics because as educators, we don’t see the child for what colour eyes they have or the colour of their skin. We see children for what they are and what they can become. Surrounding her is the big, bright yellow, sun. Coming out of the sun are the beams with a word describing my image of the child. Each beam has a different word and the words are not put all together because every quality of children is so unique. We recognize that their value comes from within. I painted a sun behind because children bring so much light and happiness into my life. They have a real light emitting from within. They radiate positivity and remind me of just how beautiful the world really is when we see it through their eyes. The most valuable and meaningful qualities of children are their courage, creativity, compassion, love, playfulness, imagination and their personalities.

Kelly Chan

As an early childhood educator, I received most of my inspiration from working with children and communicating with peers. Rubik’s cube is a diversification toy and there are many methods to decode it. This unique artwork is special to me because it emphasized the use of distinctive colours. I used coloured pencils while creating this piece, and my childhood memories came to my mind. After finishing this art piece, it encourages me to undertake a deeper connection with children and further uncover their potentials. To me, every child is remarkable; they have diverse personalities and abilities to contribute to the world.

Bailie Ryan

A child is like a campfire. They are full of love and share their warmth with us. They are all unique and have different times when they exhibit strengths and weaknesses. We are there to provide them with our love and support and help them through tough moments. However, we also need to give them room to breathe and grow on their own accord. They shine bright and can light up even the darkest room and with our love and support, they can grow to be strong individuals.

Paisley Evans

Through my art piece, I have captured the importance of stimulating children's natural curiosities of the world by exploring the outdoor environment and discovering alternate worlds through imagination. As an educator, I believe that by using the environment as the 'third teacher' children can explore a world filled with possibilities. As we guide children through co-imagining a world of possibilities, children can find their answers to the world. Globally, we are surrounded by intelligent, capable and mighty learners, and as educators, we must influence them to make their mark in this world. By opening up an environment with an abundance of opportunities, children can become their best self and find their aspirations and passions. I chose to capture an 'Enchanted Forest' through my art piece as it demonstrates the outdoors' importance as well as children's imaginative minds. It allows children to walk into a captivating world where their dreams and aspirations can come alive, opening up new possibilities as they continue to stroll our natural world. In early childhood education, 'teachable moments' allows educators to empower children's knowledge of the world by exploring our natural environment.

Elizabeth Gorgonio

"Beyond"

The drawing illustrated is titled: Beyond. I thought this was a befitting title for this image because I wanted to show what was beyond the child and beyond the image. Both sides are what my image of the child was at one point in my life. On the right, it was more limited and very in the box. It is what most people would think of when they are asked, “What is your image of the child?” However, on the left side, it is my image of the child to this day, in which there is no limit to my image of the child, it is free flowing and unconstructed. My image of the child is beyond what the preconceived idea that society has for a child.

Natasha Potter

"Children Are Like flowers"

The visual art piece I created represents children and how they are like flowers, as they both need support in order to flourish and grow. Each petal represents a part of the child that is important to me―capable, curious, diverse and resilient. At the centre of the flower, there is a faint face which represents the child as a whole. I decided to make the petals with my handprint because children need all hands-on-deck for them to receive the love and support they deserve. When children receive the care and support they deserve, they then have the ability to grow into a beautiful strong beautiful flower.

I may not be very talented in the art department, but my overall goal was to create a visual to represent the growth of each child as well as my image of children. While children are being capable, creative, diverse, and resilient, they are using these skills to learn and grow, much like a flower. Children and flowers are very much alike. They begin as a little seed and when given the right environment and nourishment they bloom and grow into a creative, capable, diverse and resilient piece in this world. It is with the support of family, guardians, and educators that we provoke and encourage children to have these qualities causing them to bloom into amazing individuals. Just like a flower, when it receives the right amount of sun and water it deserves, it can thrive. Children are capable, creative, diverse, and resilient.

McKenna Axten

"The Lone Flower"

My image of the child is one of resiliency, diversity, and compassion. The lone flower, surviving through the cold winter, represents a child's resiliency and strength. The flower itself represents diversity between children and their compassion and craving for connection with others.

Gia Cajumnas

"The Powerhouse"

A mitochondria is the part of a cell that provides energy for normal and critical functions. Children can be seen in a similar way as their knowledge, potential, and joy fuel the ones around them. They produce a ethereal energy from their natural curiosity. All that children do and provide affects their systems therefore affect society as a whole. It is important that educators and adults who are involved in children’s lives also aide them to their full potential.

Alexa Olson

For my image of the child assignment I have created a candle as my original art piece. I have made a candle that consists of eight layers of different coloured waxes all within a clear crystal holder. The colours are meant to be vibrant and striking just as each child is unique in their own characteristics. In the center of the wax is a single wick representing the inner child. Once the candle is lit it radiates beauty and provides light wherever it is located as does each child wherever they go.

Kelsey Penney

"A Child Is Like a Butterfly"

The picture provided above is an image of what I believe to be the image of a child. I created this to describe the similarities between a butterfly’s growth in life in comparison to a child’s. The representation of a caterpillar reflects towards the child as a baby. Through it’s growing process it becomes a beautiful butterfly, just like a child becoming a toddler and so on in the future. The quote, “A child is like a butterfly in the wind. Some can fly higher than others, but each one flies the best it can. Why compare one against the other? Each one is different. Each one is special. Each one is beautiful”, best describes my belief of the image of a child. Each child is different and unique in their own ways much like a butterfly.

Cindy Davie

"Together We Soar"

This painting represent my image of the child. Each balloon is symbolic of a facets I feel that are important for a child’s development and wellbeing. The balloons soar to the sky in the same way educators help children reach their potential. The children themselves were painted as silhouettes intentionally to represent all children.

(From left to right)

Sailboat - Risky and outdoor play: children taking ownership of their actions

World- Cultural Diversity and Inclusive to all

Heart- Children are empathetic and kind

Toys- Importance of play: organized sports and loose parts

Beakers- Curious Little scientist

Happy face- Optimistic

Painting Pallet- Creative and abundant imagination

Stick people- friends, family, community, and educators

Emma Maguire

"More Than Just a Tree"

On the outside, a tree is just a tree. It is tall, sturdy, and lush. A child is just a child by appearance, a small human navigating the world. Trees gradually grow with support from those around them. Growth happens in stages and each stage of growth is nurtured, supported and developed by the external influences surrounding them. The colours within the trunk are not meant to be visible to the naked eye, they are the internal experiences and influences that shape the growth of the tree. Children are much more than just miniature human beings, they are intricately woven and influenced by the world. Their colours are hidden but important and influential nonetheless. A child is like a tree, there is more to them than meets the eye. As an early childhood educator, I believe that positively acknowledging the individuality of each child and honouring such is integral to promoting diversity and inclusivity in a childcare centre. Our world is wonderfully diverse, everyone is unique. We need to treat children as strong, capable beings, as individuals with their own rights and honouring their similarities and differences is a way to do so. (Unicef, 2020)

Ji Young Kim

“Children have the right to imagine.” Loris Malaguzzi

I represented my image of the child, an imaginative and creative learner, by drawing two children who are sitting on a hill and looking at the stars and constellations which are the results of their imagination and creativity. I wanted to highlight the idea that the children are making meaning of their environment through imagination and creativity. Also, I drew the two children sitting apart rather than sitting right beside together because I wanted to represent social distancing. I wanted to emphasize that children are still imaginative and creative in the new normal. In addition, I drew grasses, a tree, a bird, and stars as the background image because I believe that nature plays a significant role to support children’s imagination and creativity.

Kathrina Pinlac

My image of the child is represented through the form of line art. This one continuous line symbolizes the interconnectedness that children have with the follow qualities: strong, independent, and capable which is illustrated through the checkmark, imaginative and creative which is illustrated through the though bubble, curiosity which is illustrated through the question mark, and unique which is illustrated through a scribble.

Ally Morrison

My image of the child is represented as a story. The book represents a child’s story throughout their life. Each story is different and has many different chapters. Each child has a different background and events that have created who they are. As part of understanding and guiding a child an educator must know their story. Children are imaginative and creative― potentially viewing their life story which they can change, add to and dream about. The heart in the middle of the book is a representation of what makes the child happy and feel loved. Things of importance to them are in the middle of the book because it is like the climax of the story and very important. As educators we are a part of the children’s story―we are there to help and explore with them in finding their “happy ending”.

Ryka Clarizze Lampasa

My visual composition displays various components of my image of the child and my influence on their learning and development. The location of the child is inspired by Loris Malaguzzi’s article, ‘Your Image of the Child: Where Teaching Begins’ (1994). The idea of the forest compares to the complexity and beauty of an early childhood educator’s role in supporting children and their families. In the forest is a child pointing into the unknown and behind illustrates a wide wing including written words; adventurous, visionary, citizen, and future which each represents a perspective of a child.

Ky Riach

"A Child is Like a Puzzle"

Children, like puzzles, require attention, and patience to figure out but once the time is taken, the image slowly emerges into something beautiful. I chose to demonstrate my puzzle on a sky-blue background because the sky is the limit for a child; they are capable of anything they set their mind to. I wanted to support the puzzle with words that are important elements of child development, such as reading, creativity, imagination, exploration, play, and curiosity. The silhouette of a child in the middle has no recognizable features; it doesn't matter the child's race, gender, or abilities to become something beautiful and whole.

Kim Reyalo

"Children are Explorers, Creators and Inventors"

‘Materials’ is one of the four responsive environments from the flight: Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework (2014). The art displays four children holding hands and are sculpted using different materials. From my standpoint, materials are one of the most influential factors of playing and learning. The materials used in the art piece are materials that are often used in a childcare environment, such as natural, loose, open ended materials and mass-produced toys. The use of various materials can allow opportunities for children to be creators of ideas and scenarios, explorers of their senses and own capabilities, and inventors of their play.

Makovichuk, L., Hewes, J., Lirette, P., & Thomas, N. (2014). flight: Alberta’s early learning and care framework. Retrieved from flightframework.ca.

Clarisssa Naytowhow

For my original art piece, much like the provocations I have planned in the past, I focused on the process rather than the final product/outcome. Using this perspective allowed me to utilize loose part materials to artistically express my visualization of the image of the child. I intended to create a vision board style art piece, that is a reflection of my past experiences in an early learning environment. I also wanted to relate my visual piece to flight Framework (2014), which focuses on strengthening positive relationships in an early learning environment, as well as supporting children with their transitions through childhood.

Christine Salas

The painting portrays children blooming in many diverse ways. The metaphor depicted in this painting are the sun, hand-print rainbow, and flowers. First, the sun represents the educator that influences the children. Second, the handprint rainbow represents the culture of the children that can be viewed and shared. Third, the delicate flower represents the young children blooming. All of these can impact our image of the child. As we build relationships with the children, we will start to see their image deeply.

Korie McAdam

"True Colours of a Child"

The image I created shows the uniqueness of a child, using different colours representing the support needed to allow each child to reach their full potential. Every time you melt crayons they will never fall in the same way. I used this to help represent the differences in children, their families, and communities. Overall my goal is to display the equalness of a child based on their reflection of an adult, resilience, strength, growth, independence and creativity in each of us.

Esther Lee

Children are competent, and they are wonderers. I metaphorically signified the child's image as a 'singing bird in the morning.' In my visual art piece, the child is gazing at the bird. They reflect each other because of their similarities. Children are always curious and asking questions about everything they have in their minds. They love to talk and explore the world they live in. When I hear birds chirping at each other in the morning, it symbolizes children and their curiosity by asking questions and expressing their feelings. The music notes coming from the bird resembles the children talking. I value children's curiosity and the imaginative questions they ask. As an early childhood educator, my role is to provide resources and play spaces for children to explore and experiment with those wonders. Secondly, the bird's broken wing represents the ignorance of children's capabilities. Although children are rich in potentials, their abilities are underestimated most of the time. The media and society view children as needy and dependent individuals. Therefore, children are overprotected by adults, which restricts their imagination. Lastly, I included nature in my drawing to emphasize how important nature is to me as an early childhood educator. I believe that nature is a child's best friend, and children can learn so much by playing outside. As they explore the beautiful natural world, they will develop a sense of wonder and a caring heart about nature and living things in the world.

Michelle Botero

I did the stages of a bike because children develop new abilities with each step that they achieve. Each child is different, so the stages won't look the same for every child. Children need an educator who is patient and willing to help them expand their knowledge. I believe children should also have the freedom to explore and express who they are in their play. The following pictures tell a story. The red car at the beginning is the start when the child is first learning how to walk. This car helps the child learn how to glide their feet. The picture at the bottom is of two toddlers having fun. Children develop many skills when they are with other children The child in the back is more experienced, so he can teach the child in the front how to peddle by the child in the front looking and demonstrating how to peddle. The picture at the bottom is of a red tricycle. This tricycle and educator can help the child have his first bike experiences. The adult can teach the child how to peddle and give the child more independence as the child practices. The child can use the peddles, or the adult can use a pole to help the child peddle as the child gains confidence. The picture with the child who has a blue and yellow bike is learning how to balance. Even though the child falls, the adult can encourage the child to get up, or the adult can let the child try again independently. The next picture shows an adult with a child. The child is first starting to use training wheels, so the child was nervous. The adult can ease the child by helping them trust in themselves and the bike. The picture above the last picture shows the child who is a bit older confidently riding his bike on his own. The child learned how to use the breaks with the help of an adult and was able to stop when he needed to. The last picture is a huge step for children because children see other children, and they also want to follow because it seems exciting. The child in this picture doesn't have training wheels and puts all the knowledge they learned from the beginning to use a bike. Children need educators/caregivers who give them the resources and guidance to develop into amazing children with bright futures.

Sarah Calesso

I believe that children are like flowers within a field of flowers. The painting I created shows an abundance of beautiful diverse flowers growing on healthy green grass with bees helping to pollinate the flowers and a person with red boots providing nutrients and water to help the flowers grow. The subjects in the painting represent different things that I believe are important in the development of children within a childcare setting. The flowers represent children as beautiful and strong, and the bees represent their educators. The bees fly from flower to flower and help with their growth just as educators bring their knowledge into the classroom and share their knowledge with children and help them to grow. The healthy green grass represents the children's guardians; the grass provides a base for the flowers to grow. Guardians are people that children can rely on and help their children grow with the love and nurturing they need to develop into healthy, strong, and smart young adults. The boots at the bottom represent other people in the child's life. The person who is wearing the boots is also watering the flowers which can be seen with the blue dots on the painting. Those who come into the flower garden wearing the boots can be anyone who spends time with the children and helps them develop positively in their own way just as a gardener would water their plants so that they can grow up healthy. Everything in the ecosystem of the flower garden works together just as everyone in the child’s life works together.