Thanks to an anonymous donor, several children at Emporia Child Care Center II, 2011 W. 12th Ave., got to participate in a special art activity that focused on colors and shapes Monday morning.
Melissa Windsor, executive director of the Emporia Arts Council, said a donor who does not wish to be identified donated money to bring the Arts Council’s Art Mobile to the child care center.
“(The donor) asked us if we were interested in bringing the Art Mobile to the child care center,” Windsor said.
The donor’s gift to the 5-year-olds at the center was the gift of art. The children enjoyed the art activity, which included abstract drawing and making a color wheel with Play-doh.
“I’m amazed at how much they know already,” Windsor said as the children named off primary and secondary colors.
The children got a good lesson on primary colors, secondary colors and shapes while they were at it. Using Play-doh, the children made a color wheel with primary colors. They mixed the Play-doh to make secondary colors.
Cathy Wright, program director for the child care center, said art plays a crucial role in young children’s education.
“It helps them learn skills and you can incorporate every subject matter into art,” she said, adding that the children through art learn about pre-math skills, pre-writing and other subjects. “And it’s fun. They enjoy it.”
Wright said art is hands-on and children enjoy that.
“They like working with their hands,” she said.
Ashley Fisher, the children’s teacher, agreed.
“Art is everywhere,” Fisher said.