Anthropologists say that the need for beauty and harmony is originally inherent in man. Without this component, it is impossible to form a holistic picture of the world, as well as the creative activity of the individual. Since ancient times, sages have recommended raising children in an atmosphere of kindness and beauty. For young people, perception of beauty and physical development were considered priority, for young people - learning and enjoying various types of art. Thus, the importance of the formation of an aesthetic culture of the individual has always been recognized.
Definition
The term "aesthetics" goes back to the Greek aisteticos (perceived through the senses). The main subject of study of this philosophical doctrine has become various forms of beauty. An intelligent, spiritually developed person knows how to notice beauty in nature, art and everyday life, seeks to ennoble the surrounding reality.
However, in modern society, the tendency toward consumerism and the possession of material values is becoming more and more noticeable. Great importance is attached to the intellectual education of the individual. Rational-logical approach displaces the sensual, emotional component. This leads to the depreciation of the intangible cultural heritage, the depletion of the inner world of man and a decrease in his creative potential.
In this regard, the aesthetic education of the younger generation is of particular importance. Its purpose is the formation of a personality culture, which includes:
- Aesthetic perception. The ability to notice the beautiful in art and life.
- Aesthetic feelings. These are emotional experiences of a person, which are based on an evaluative attitude to the phenomena of nature, art, etc.
- Aesthetic ideals. These are the individual's perceptions of perfection.
- Aesthetic needs. The desire for communication with the beautiful in its various manifestations.
- Aesthetic tastes. This is the ability to distinguish between the beautiful and the ugly, to evaluate them in accordance with existing aesthetic knowledge and ideals formed.
Structural components
The following components are usually distinguished in educational work:
- Aesthetic education. It includes acquaintance with world and domestic culture, mastery of art history knowledge.
- Art and aesthetic education. It provides for the involvement of children in creative activity, the formation of their tastes and value orientations.
- Aesthetic self-education. During it, a person is engaged in self-improvement, deepens existing knowledge and practical skills.
- Education of aesthetic needs of the child, as well as his creative abilities. A person should have a craving for beauty, a desire to bring something new into the world through self-expression.
Tasks
The aesthetic culture of a child is formed in two directions: familiarization with universal values and inclusion in artistic activity. In accordance with this, two groups of tasks facing educators are distinguished.
The former are designed to form aesthetic knowledge of the younger generation, to acquaint him with the culture of the past. Children are taught to see the beautiful in life, work, nature, and emotionally respond to it. Aesthetic ideals are formed. The pursuit of excellence in actions, thoughts, and appearance is encouraged. The teacher should remember that the aesthetic tastes of all people are different. Some children admire classical music, others delight hard rock. It is necessary to teach children to relate the tastes of other people and eras to their personal ones, to treat them with respect.
The second group of tasks involves the participation of children in practical artistic activities. They are taught to draw, compose fairy tales, sculpt from clay, dance, play instruments, sing, recite verses. Teachers organize theatrical performances, concerts, literary evenings, exhibitions and festivals. As a result, the child joins in an active creative activity, learns to create beauty with his own hands.
From birth to 3 years
The tasks of aesthetic education vary depending on the age of the children. The smallest are taught to react emotionally to the beauty around them, to express themselves through free creativity. The baby loves lullabies and beautiful music. He rejoices in bright rattles, a smart doll and perky nursery rhymes.
Teachers give the following recommendations:
- Surround your child with beauty. The order and stylistic consistency in the nursery, plants and paintings decorating the apartment, neat and polite parents - all this is quickly adopted and very difficult to correct afterwards.
- Bring the kid to high art. For this, the works of such composers as Mozart, Bach, Schubert, Haydn are suitable. Folk and children's songs are also welcome. From 6 months old babies try to dance to the music. You can include them with classical ballets. From the age of two, a child is able to move to the beat with the melody: spin under the waltz, jump under the polka, step under the marches.
- From birth, tell folk tricks and beautiful poems by the classics. Babies listen to their sound, not yet understanding the meaning. Closer to the year children are introduced to simple folk tales. It is recommended that they be staged with toys. At 1.5 years, you can take the child to the puppet theater.
- As soon as possible, give your baby a pencil, paints, plasticine or modeling dough. Allow to draw scribbles, crumple elastic materials. The process is important here, not the result.
- Often walk in beautiful places, go to nature.
Preschool age
Usually children 3-7 years old attend kindergarten. The program of any preschool institution provides for special classes on the artistic and aesthetic development of babies. This includes acquaintance with visual activity, literary works, music, and dancing. Children participate in theatrical productions, perform at matinees. Artists with puppet and circus performances come to visit them. All this forms a love of art.
Another good help for parents can be the groups of aesthetic development, which are opened at children's centers and music schools. In them, preschoolers are introduced to various types of art: music, drawing, theater, singing, modeling, rhythm. In addition, lessons in mathematics and speech development are held, which use game and creative teaching methods.
However, much depends on family education. It is important that parents introduce preschool children to the best examples of cartoons, fairy tales, and poems. But from uncontrolled watching TV is better to refuse. Modern cartoons often contain rude and slangy words, they feature scary, unattractive characters. All this negatively affects the formation of the child’s artistic taste, not to mention his psyche.
At this age, it is useful to consider reproductions of famous artists that depict animals and magical characters. It is best to purchase a set of postcards. Discuss the image, try to feel sounds, smells, guess what will happen next. Why are the characters happy or sad? Which family members will find more details on the canvas?
From 4-5 years, you can take the child to the museum. Preschoolers prefer sculptures and decorative objects (vases, candelabra, furniture). Pictures are perceived more difficult. Invite your child to find the most interesting on their own. From the age of 5 you can attend children's concerts at the Philharmonic, colorful ballets based on the plots of famous fairy tales. At home, play the orchestra, creating instruments from improvised materials.
Family walks around the city and nature trips bring a lot of benefits. Pay attention to the beauty of buildings, together admire the blossoming flowers or the sunset. Preschoolers need communication with animals. It is good if the family has a pet that needs to be looked after. Hiking the kids at the contact zoo or circus will bring a lot of joy to the kids.
Aesthetic education at school
First graders already have their own ideas about the beautiful. They are able to experience deep aesthetic feelings. The task of the school is to organize a gradually becoming more complicated system of classes in which children learn to perceive and analyze works of art, to distinguish between genres and styles. The formation of the artistic taste of students continues.
The content of aesthetic education includes two special disciplines:
- Music. It is taught to students in grades 1-7. In the lessons, children get acquainted with composers and musical genres, the skills of choral singing and the ability to follow the melody are actively developed.
- Art. This course is conducted from 1st to 6th grade and is aimed at the artistic and aesthetic education of schoolchildren. Children get acquainted with a variety of creative techniques and materials, learn to express through feelings their feelings and relationships.
No less important are general educational disciplines. So, literature lessons develop the emotional-sensual sphere of schoolchildren, teach them to empathize with heroes, to notice the beauty of verbal images. Geography and biology are designed not only to equip children with knowledge, but also to foster a love of nature. Exact sciences show the rigorous beauty of formulas, theorems, allow you to experience the pleasure of solving research problems. However, the main work on aesthetic education is carried out after school hours.
Junior schoolchildren
Work with primary school students should be carried out in three areas:
- Acquaintance with works of art, obtaining aesthetic information. With children, it is necessary to consider the paintings of prominent artists, listen to classical music, read high-quality literature, accessible for understanding. Visiting museums, theaters, philharmonic halls, and concerts will help you join high art.
- Acquisition of skills in practical artistic activity. A child should not only get acquainted with ready-made masterpieces, but also try to create something similar on his own. To do this, performances are staged at the school, music, art and poetry competitions are held, concerts are being prepared for the holidays.
- Self-expression through your favorite creative activity. Parents should consider choosing a circle based on the interests of the child. It doesn’t matter if it is an art school, choir or dance studio. The main thing is that the heir can realize his creative potential.
Not all families have the opportunity to attend the best concerts and exhibitions, to take their children to circles. But even in the most remote village you can arrange evenings of expressive reading, consider books with pictures, sculptures, listen to music, watch good films and discuss them. Amateur clubs should work in a village club. Mass holidays are regularly held in the villages, introducing the local people to the folk culture.
But the main condition for the success of aesthetic education is a passionate adult. When working with children, a formal approach is unacceptable. Teach the children to look at masterpieces through the eyes of the discoverer, not to be afraid to express their own opinions, sometimes naive. Connect games. Turn into great composers and compose a melody for a poem. Play the gallery by hanging art reproductions on the walls. Let the child assume the role of a guide. Frivolity and openness - this is the key to success.
Middle school students
Teachers and parents of schoolchildren of 5-9th grades are faced with the following tasks of aesthetic education:
- To organize direct contacts of children with various works of art through their display, performance or demonstration.
- To develop a rating system in relation to the phenomena of beauty.
- Provide information on expressive means, history and theory of world art.
- To create conditions for independent creative activity, which will allow each child to establish himself in the team (circles, literary and musical evenings, amateur concerts, competitions).
Adolescence is a sensitive time for aesthetic development. Children are characterized by increased sensitivity, the desire for independence, self-expression. They are attracted by bright, strong-willed individuals who can defeat circumstances.
At the same time, many students still cannot distinguish between genuine art and primitive forms of mass culture. Decisive heroes of militants committing immoral acts often become an example to follow. It is extremely important to formulate at this age full-fledged artistic tastes of children, to acquaint them with the best works of art, choosing those that are accessible to perception are close to the experience of schoolchildren. Vibrant historical events, adventures and science fiction usually attract interest.
Acquaintance with the intangible cultural heritage (traditions, oral art, mythology, crafts) allows you to come into contact with centuries-old representations, the collective experience of the people. At this age, conversations about the culture of communication, the appearance of a person, and modern fashion are no less relevant. Invite teens to engage in dialogue, express their opinions during discussions, role-playing games, and say goodbye to their "ruff".
High school students
In grades 10-11, students are able to subtly feel the beauty in art, speak on equal terms with adults about the meaning of life, harmony, happiness. They are characterized by curiosity. Many at this age are engaged in self-education.
At the same time, children are unbalanced, prone to criticism. Boys often behave in a loose manner, neglect the appearance, defending their right to independence. Girls, on the contrary, carefully look after themselves, use cosmetics, are interested in lyrical works of love.
It is important for teachers to create favorable conditions for identifying the abilities of students and their development. Classes in music and art schools, clubs, performances in a village club often determine the choice of profession. Cool hours can be used for conversations, excursions, disputes, theatrical productions, music evenings, discos, meetings with cultural figures.
Aesthetic education is not limited to acquaintance with art. Schoolchildren should notice the beauty in everyday life, whether it be nature, socially useful work or living conditions. An aesthetics of communication is actively being formed, which includes a culture of expression of feelings, a respectful attitude to the interlocutor, and expressiveness of speech.
