Why you should ditch the bright display backing paper
Many think the early years should be full of lots of wonderful display boards, filled with children’s art work. Although true, display boards are becoming a hotly debated topic with more and more suggested ideas for best practice. Settings are choosing to limit the number of display boards they have as it is being seen as a waste of practitioners time as practitioners feel obliged to fill these ensuring every child has artwork displayed for example a sticking picture of a cut out butterfly. Although these make the room appealing to adults it is believed by some that these have little or no benefit for the children. Instead many settings are now choosing to have ‘wow’ boards where the children can choose which work they would like displayed and often can add their own pieces. These are thought to be much more beneficial as it enables the children to display the work they are truly proud of and have created of their accord.
Whether you have a room full of displays or a limited number of displays all too often practitioners are backing these boards with brightly coloured backing paper and bright display borders. This is something which is now thought to be bad practice and can hinder children’s development. Instead settings are opting to use hessian, burlap or brown paper as backing paper for display boards.
Why should neutral backing materials be used for displays?
There are many reasons that practitioners are now using materials such as hessian/ burlap for display boards. The reasons include:
· Less distraction – The bright colours on display backing can be a huge distraction for the children and the focus on this instead of the lovely work displayed
· Makes children’s own work stand out – If a neutral colour is displayed behind the children’s own work really stands out and the children are better able to identify what is on there and which one belongs to them
· Communication friendly – It helps the whole learning environment become a more communication-friendly place.
· Inclusive – This can have a very positive impact on children with additional needs and therefore makes your setting a more inclusive environment
· Calming – This creates a more calming environment for children to learn, discover and play in. Too many bright colours and hanging displays can cause too much stimulation and children find it harder to focus
· Durable – If you use hessian or burlap it is a very durable material meaning the backing rarely needs changing. This is great for practitioners and children as less time is spent on the display boards and more meaningful activities and play can take place.
What are peoples views on this topic?
What a load of nonsense!
My child has SEN and was frequently distracted at primary school, but this would have been the case whether the display boards around her were brightly coloured or not. They were – in fact, I remember some absolutely beautiful displays which were a real pleasure to look at and over which the teachers had taken a great deal of time and effort to show off the children’s work to best advantage. In an area where most of the adults were consumed with matters such as where the next family meal was coming from, this school was a haven of childhood happiness and display boards made the parents stand and stare at the lovely things their kids had created, (which is surely a huge part of the point).
My daughter is now a teen and is about to take GCSEs, predicted mostly 7s (A grades), and 8-9s in some cases. This is down to the excellent support she received at said Primary while in a secure and caring environment, and to her own focus and determination, which she has had to develop despite being distracted constantly. You can’t change the hard-wiring in a person’s brain by changing the colour of a display board. You actually have to get on with supporting that person and teaching them techniques to improve their own learning capability. That takes time, care and sensitivity – the type of extra effort, in fact, that some teachers put into their display boards.
Do not agree. Bright boards are fun and friendly. A great way to showcase children’s work and information you need children to be aware of.
Latest fad.
Don’t agree at all. Bright and colourful display boards can be a great stimulus for many children and have been for many years.
Where is the evidence that a colourful background hinders a child’s development? Surely it draws a child’s attention to the display in the first place, particularly when it is out of their eyeline (which displays generally are)? Go into any gallery and there are always bold colours on the walls to draw attention to the masterpieces hung within, there are no beige walls there. Distractions aren’t the curse to productivity we generally see them as, I get my best ideas from distraction. A recent study used distraction in a nursing home and found that the residents were more alert and the researchers actually suggested that distraction was slowing down the progress of Alzheimer’s, as it promotes brain activity. Surely the promotion of brain activity is what we want in the early years sector too?
Really? What age were the children who created the above display? Why not ask the children, after all it is their work one is trying to display!! It really isn’t rocket science you know! If. Child sees their own work on display it is huge talking point! Why do practitioners feel the need to take control?
With all due respect, i believe the article is referring to the backgroud color of the display boards, not excluding children’s work. In fact, one of the benefits according to them is that a neutral color can help their work stand out. And i like your idea of asking th children about their likes. I remember that since grade 5, it was our job, not the teacher’s, to decorate the board.
You have to watch hessian as some asthmatic have a reaction to it. Staff and Children.
Well that makes it somewhat *ex*clusive then, in my opinion.
A very good point ! Also fibres from can be troublesome to eyes too ! Hessian also gives off an odour. If children are going to be forced ( and teachers ) to back walls in hessian … we will see a decline in “ creative” people in years to come ! Patterns and colours invite our souls to set the mood … Hessian = Depressian I say !
I like the plain cork.
Brilliant idea was just having this conversation today it’s ridiculous trying to find time to back boards and have time to do the art to stick up there. much more fun doing the art