Early Childhood Education Center's Project Showcases Cognitive Growth Through Creative Expression

Art has the power to tell a story—and for the children at Moreno Valley College's (MVC) Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC), it also tells the story of cognitive growth. The ECEC recently concluded a unique project that showcased young children's creativity and offered a visual representation of the cognitive development occurring in the early years. The Art from the Heart project featured portraits of MVC employees drawn by children in four different age groups, from two to five. What began as a simple art project evolved into an exploration of the brain’s development through the lens of artistic expression.

The ECEC celebrates Black History Month yearly by creating bulletin boards highlighting historical figures. This year, however, educators decided to do something different by shifting the focus to MVC’s leaders and employees. Sandra Rivas, ECE manager, explained that the idea was born out of a desire to strengthen the connection between the children and the people they see around campus. One of her teachers, Patty Lucero, suggested showcasing MVC’s leaders in the project, which Rivas felt would allow the children to learn about these figures and interact with them meaningfully.

The project included portraits of:

• Interim President FeRita Carter, Ph.D., interim president
• Brandi Avila, Ed.D., dean, student development and wellness
• Joseph Murray, laboratory technician
• Donnell Layne, director, STEM innovation
• Olayide Coston, financial aid analyst
• Veronica Horton, student services office specialist
• Leslie Jones, custodian,
• Darrylon Evans and Melissa Thompson, associate professors, early childhood education
• Theo Mabon, senior groundskeeper

Art from the Heart quickly became an opportunity for children to express their creativity and serve as a tool for examining how young minds develop over time. As the children’s ages varied, so did the complexity of their artwork, with each age group demonstrating distinct cognitive milestones.

Four classrooms participated in the project, each with its own set of dedicated teachers. The Cub Class of two-year-olds, guided by Guadalupe Rios and Sarah Shanahan, began with simple, expressive scribbles. Children at this stage are just beginning to explore shapes and colors, and their drawings often reflect emotions rather than a direct representation of the world around them. The Jungle Class of three-year-olds, under the care of Karina Parra and Yolanda Uribe, began to experiment with more recognizable forms as their cognitive skills and focus developed.

By the time the children reached the Zoo Class of four-year-olds, taught by Cecilia Valdez and Tanya Pahua, their drawings became more refined, with clearer shapes and structure. Finally, the Bear Class for four- and five-year-olds, led by Patty Lucero and Heidi Edward-Sivitos, produced images with greater attention to detail—some even going beyond basic stick figures to create fully formed representations of people.

As children grow, they develop the ability to focus more on detail and organization, and what they can translate onto paper increases as their brains make new connections.

This evolution in artistic skill is a real-life example of the importance of early childhood education and its impact on brain development. Experts say the first five years of life are critical for cognitive growth. During this time, children’s brains form the foundation for skills that will last a lifetime. 

For the children, Art from the Heart showcased their artistic growth. For MVC’s leaders, it was a reminder of their deep impact on the lives of students and the next generation. Rivas reflected on the project's beauty, noting that it shows the children how their creativity can be an expression of growth. As their brains develop, so does their ability to communicate and connect with the world around them—and that’s something that benefits everyone.

At MVC, the Early Childhood Education Center’s mission is to nurture young minds and give children the tools they need to succeed academically and personally. With projects like Art from the Heart, the ECEC is helping to lay the foundation for future leaders, one crayon stroke at a time.