It’s Not Your Job
I recently saw a poll on a popular crafty website, asking parents and caregivers, “What is your biggest challenge when it comes to making art with your kids?”
I said aloud to my laptop, “I know the answer to this one. Not enough time.”
My laptop answered, “Nope. The number one answer by far is: I don’t have enough ideas.”
It is not your job to find art projects for them to make.
It is not your job to clean up their messes.
It is not your job to keep them from being bored.
It is not your job to keep track of their belongings.
Our job is to encourage children's independence and responsibility. To listen to and validate their ideas. To help them through roadblocks and teach them problem solving skills. To set up their space to make it as easy as possible for them to access and put away materials. To take a step back when they don’t need us.
How Can Art Do That?
With Choice Based Art, the child creates according to their interests. Their art is born from their ideas, thoughts, concerns, feelings, and wonders.
When children choose what and how to create they:
> Gain confidence and independence as they expand their sense of ownership
> Learn to communicate their ideas visually, building imagination
> Feel free to explore and try new things in other aspects of life
> Develop focus, perseverance, and problem solving skills
> Celebrate their individuality
How To Begin
1. Help your child keep a running list of their ideas, interests, thoughts, and dreams. This is a flexible list, they may add to it and cross things off at any time. They can keep their Idea List in a journal, a large piece of paper tacked to their bedroom wall, or in their phone notes.
2. Ask leading and clarifying questions. Let your child choose an idea - it could be a theme, a material, an experiment, a thought, something they are concerned about, it’s ALL GOOD! Now you have something to expand upon and are ready to ask supporting questions as your child gets started. Here is a list of questions to spark discussion.
3. Allow the creative process to take place. Be there when needed. More on that next week.
