Art & Creativity

Giving Your Child a Creative Voice

By The Voices for Children

Studies indicate that pride levels elevate in children whose art or personal photographs are exhibited for others to admire. It says everyone, "this is who I am, and what I can do."

Art, the process of creating, engages the child to communicate to the world. The picture is their child's own language.

Goals
To develop inspiration, wide ideals and an active imagination which may constantly lift him to a higher and finer spiritual level.

The Stages of Development
Lowenfield, a noted art educator, identified the different stages of artistic development.

The scribbling stage - ages 2 - 4 years - is characterized by up and down movement, with colour not being an important choice, and the names of the drawings represent the way the child sees the drawing. The experience is personal and expression follows from that experience. Drawings are often characterized by the big head of the figures.

The preschematic stage - ages 4 - 6 years - independent creation is a joy of a very special quality. The squares, circles and various lines of scribble suggest to the mind, when it is ready, images so that with slight additions or modifications these can be converted to figures that stand for concepts in the child's own mind.

The schematic stage - ages 7 - 9 years - as a representation with no intention of exhibiting an experience. There is more realism, the child is part of the portrayed environment, and there is use of symbols.

The gang stage - ages 9 - 11 years - is a connection with reality and the child begins to draw what he/she sees.

What can be done to encourage Artistic/Creative Expression

• Let your child be the artist. When an adult draws for a child, the child is less likely satisfied with his/her own drawings because the child feels the adult's drawing must be the correct one. This reduces self-confidence and increases frustration, as well as reduces a child's willingness to take risks.
• Use well-illustrated books when reading to children. Having a reference such as richly illustrated picture books provides a source of imagination for the child and a point for exploration between child and adult.
• Keep it simple, paper and crayons or markers can bring out the imagination by allowing a child maximum opportunity for free expression.
• Do give approval. Encourage your child to talk about the drawing as this strengthens verbal and cognitive growth.
• Judging is for competitions only, not real life. Remember it is the process of creating which is important for the child. Comment on the positive aspects of the artwork but do not judge or evaluate it.
• Your child is an individual. Each child has a unique way of expressing him or herself, it is his or her own personal language or fingerprint.
• Do display your child's artwork. This builds self-esteem and confidence. A place on the fridge or bulletin board can be easy updated with new work. Invite your child to participate in the display and place at least some work at the child's eye level. Another idea is to dedicate a space in the child's room as the art wall in which they have control of what gets displayed.

Hints on Providing a Creative Environment

• Make a regular time for creative expression, just as a regular reading time.
• A makeshift space such as an area of the kitchen table is just as valuable as a separate activity room. Remember, the creative mind has no boundaries.
• Know you will probably have a mess. Prepare in advance with covering the surface area with a washable vinyl tablecloth that can be easily wiped up and the floor with a few sheets of newspaper.
• Use old shirts as cover-ups or better yet wear old play clothes that are washable and okay to get "dirty".
• Save old greeting cards and wrapping paper to use in cut-outs or collages. Pasta such as penne and rotini are another cheap art supply.
• When on walks with your child, encourage them to look at nature i.e. Leaves, rocks, shells and to use these as an inspiration pieces. Adult supervision for handling items - 5 years and under.
• Place paint in resealable plastic jars with lids that can be readily used for the next time.
• Clean up and proper storage of equipment will ensure supplies and tools for the next project.
• Save old rags for clean-up. It is more economical and durable than paper towels.
• It's okay to use hands and fingers instead of brushes.
• Supplies can be stored in a cardboard box decorated by the child or in a plastic storage bin for easy accessibility.
• Home-made recipes, such as the one below, for finger-paints are just as effective as the store bought kind and cheaper.

Finger Paint Recipe

(for ages 3 to 5 years)

2 tbsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. cold water
1 cup boiling water (parents only)

• Mix cold water with corn starch until smooth and add boiling water. Stir. Cool.
• For color, add food coloring or powdered tempura drinks. One may want to be adventurous and try adding powdered fruit drinks. Your child may want to provide some input in a colour choice.
• Put individual colours in old yogurt tubs (500 ml), left over paints can be stored and reused.
• Have fun! They can make a hand print(s) if they want. Use the finger to draw and create textures.
• This allows one to experiment and feel the materials. This process allows the child to identify what the materials do, to make choices and the results, identify colours and shapes, and exercise eye hand co-ordination. It maybe a bit messy, but remember everything is washable.
• Allow the pieces(s) to dry. If desired, the child can draw with the pencil a shape around the piece of art, which the adult can cut out.
• The finished work of art can be glued on coloured construction paper to provide a framed finished look.

"The older I get, and the more I master the medium, the more I return to my earliest experiences. I think that at the end of my life I will recover all the force of my childhood" Joan Munro 1960

Resources www.Kidzdraw.com Carol Mark