#251: Understanding Process Art with Victoria Armstrong

In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla is joined by Victoria Armstrong, owner of Side By Side Consulting Services, for a thoughtful conversation about rethinking art in early learning.Victoria brings almost 20 years of experience as a classroom educator, pedagogical leader, college professor, coordinator and early learning consultant. She also spent a significant part of her career pioneering a children’s art initiative that brought local artists into early learning and licensed child care programs.Together, Carla and Victoria explore what process-based art really means, the role educators play in children’s artistic experiences and how the materials we offer can either create space for original thinking or unintentionally limit it. They also discuss the value of introducing children to artistic techniques, why the finished product still matters and how educators can offer inspiration without deciding what children’s work should become.This episode will encourage you to look at the materials on your art shelves and the experiences you build around them with a more critical and intentional lens.VICTORIA ARMSTRONGVictoria Armstrong has worked in early childhood education for almost 20 years. She began her ECE career studying and volunteering abroad in Hawaii, India and Japan. After earning her diploma and honours degree in Early Childhood Studies in Ontario, Victoria held a variety of roles, including classroom educator, pedagogical leader, college professor, HR and communications specialist, coordinator and early learning consultant.A significant part of her career was spent pioneering and coordinating a children’s art initiative that integrated local artists into early learning and licensed child care programs. Today, Victoria is the owner of Side By Side Consulting Services, where she works with early years organizations to support and enhance their work with children and families.LINKSWebsite: www.sbsconsulting.ca Instagram: @sbsconsultingservicesYoutube: The Studio@SBS Consulting ServicesAnn Pelo's Book: Language of Art: Inquiry-Based Studio Practices in Early Childhood SettingsSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week!CONNECT WITH CARLAEmail Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ Website: carlatheece.comInstagram: @carlatheece