| Most kids I've come across including when I | | | | sculpts out of play-dough? Of course not! |
| was a kid love to draw, doodle or paint; it | | | | What I am saying though is that if a child is |
| seems like we're all born with this love for | | | | open to art, enjoys creating, this is another |
| the most part and as we grow up, sometimes | | | | outlet for them to use when they're troubled |
| that love dwindles, goes away all together or | | | | about something rather than locking it up |
| remains with us. The reasons for the | | | | inside where it can do real damage. |
| different aspects of art leaving our lives as | | | | Personally, I think that's something a lot of |
| we grow up are many and varied; they can | | | | adults need or should realize as well. |
| range from just plain losing interest, | | | | |
| becoming frustrated enough as we get older | | | | Personally, I like to use myself for an |
| that we're not happy with our work and we | | | | example on this sort of situation; I always |
| move onto something else that we're better at | | | | enjoyed drawing & doodling for most of my |
| and sometimes it's simply due to lack of | | | | life but was never into it enough to pursue |
| encouragement by the grown-ups around us | | | | it passionately till a few years ago; this |
| including parents. | | | | wasn't due to my parents lack of |
| | | | encouragement; they always thought my work |
| I will tell you though why I think it's so | | | | was the greatest even when it really wasn't. |
| important to keep encouraging a child's | | | | I hate to say it but I just was never |
| artwork, whether it's painting, | | | | interested enough in it to pursue it |
| fingerpainting,drawing,doodling, etc. It's a | | | | continously although I always did add a touch |
| huge boost to their self-esteem; you don't | | | | of art to most things I did, whether it was |
| have to be great at art and let's face it, | | | | designing my folders I used for school to |
| there's only so many child prodigies out | | | | even one time painting a pair of my shoes |
| there that are exceptionally gifted from the | | | | partly gold to make them unique hehe. Look |
| onset; art is about so much more than having | | | | at me now, I'm a graphic designer/digital |
| something you can tell what it is or define | | | | painter and rarely go an entire day without |
| in a nice little niche. Art is about the | | | | trying my hand at something creative unless |
| soul; it's where a person's creativity sparks | | | | I'm in a tremendous creative block in which |
| and is allowed to express itself without any | | | | case I do take a breather so as to keep the |
| hindrance or fast set rules. | | | | frustration from building up. |
| | | | |
| Another wonderful reason to encourage a child | | | | Naturally, not every child who dabbles in art |
| is something we might overlook on occasion. | | | | will become an artist, writer or what have |
| Children, no matter their age, have a hard | | | | you but by allowing them the opportunity to |
| time expressing themselves verbally- let's | | | | explore their creativity, their imagination |
| face it MOST adults aren't exactly great in | | | | throughout their life through art, no matter |
| this area either; hence why so many arguments | | | | the form, you will be helping to raise a |
| are started, divorces happen, etc. Now if | | | | human being who will be open to new ideas, |
| something is really bothering the child or is | | | | explore new paths, never lose their sense of |
| worrying them, how do you think they might | | | | wonder and no matter what career they pursue |
| express it? You guessed it right!! with their | | | | as they grow up these sorts of qualities will |
| Art! Art is a wonderful way to express your | | | | be of a tremendous boom to them and will give |
| emotions and children do this all the time; | | | | them both an edge & an outlet for when things |
| now am I suggesting that you start to analyze | | | | get tough and seem overwhelming. |
| each piece your child draws, paints or | | | | |