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