To cultivate the seeds of creativity, you don’t need to invest a lot of money in family home activities or come up with exotic family ideas. Many materials can be found around the house. Art projets are fun family activities that reinforce children’s natural sense of wonder while they discover the magic of making things. Even the youngest budding artists, whose skills are still shaky, work hard and delight in the discoveries made while creating.
In fact, painting, drawing, collage and clay can boost hand and arm muscle control while supporting the development of hand-eye coordination. These skills are needed before learning how to write. Children are forming early concepts, like cause and effect, as they examine the properties of each medium and discover, through trial and error, what materials can do and how they can be used. They also get a tremendous feeling of power and accomplishment as they leave their first marks on the world.
For little ones, the process of creating is more important than the product. Young children aren’t overly concerned with the end-result--it is the doing that is important. Children younger than 3 are simply experimenting with materials and making marks on the page. Instead of asking, “What is it?” describe what you see--for example, say, “I see you used lots of red paint.” Avoid passing judgment or correcting. If we want children to stay in touch with their creative selves, we need to be supportive and let them enjoy the process.
It’s also important to recognize that all children pass through natural developmental stages in artwork. These stages determine the end result. Adults need to respect the products of each stage, and appreciate the spontaneity of creating. Help keep creativity alive in your child by providing lots of opportunity for healthy self-expression. A healthy attitude now can continue throughout your child’s life.
Ages & Stages
At about 12 months many babies can grasp a chunky crayon in their hand and make random marks with it. Don’t expect your child to draw anything recognizable. Around 18 months, as fine motor skills grow stronger, provide large non-toxic crayons and markers that are easy to grasp, in a rainbow of colors. As your child grows, offer a variety of materials like different sizes of paper, finger paints, magazines for collages, glue sticks and play dough with cookie cutters.
Dawn Marie Barhyte is a former teacher and freelance writer in Warwick, New York.