Being a dad who believes whole-heartedly in the worth of exposing young people to the arts, it is no surprise that my three-year old relishes the chance to work with her watercolors at the kitchen table. Allowing a child to express themselves openly and honestly through art, be it with paint, pencil, crayon, Legos or in song, is one of the more remarkable and rewarded gifts a parent can give to their kids. There is of course the immediate return on investment, the work of art itself that will stand as a testament to that moment – that exact place in time when brush touched paper, but there is definitely a longer term impact of such artsy activity. By allowing your little ones to explore their creative side independently they will, over time, begin to learn about themselves, their emotions and discover new methods of conveying some of their innermost passions and feelings.
A homemade piece of art makes a 100% unique and cost-free (aside from a small time-cost) gift for family and friends. We encourage our daughter to think about a person, maybe a cousin whose birthday is upcoming, and paint what she feels when she conjures up an image or a memory of that individual. I talk to her about painting what is in her heart and her mind, concepts that, while maybe totally over-her-head, are important considerations for a true artist – in my humble, non-artistic opinion. Once, I commented that a painting she had made for me had no red in it, my favorite color, while works for her sister and mother did. She pulled mine back and added some red for me. I said thanks, but that if she was not feeling red at the time, that that was perfectly okay by me and that I would never ask her to alter one of her creations to fit my needs.
Art and music is proven to have the power heal, help, teach and enlighten all people, young and old. If you currently do not employ art in your family’s regular schedule, consider adding a quick project or two in place of a video or cartoon and see what happens when you engage a young person in the arts! And remember, in the words of Jeff Tweedy in Wilco’s new single “What Light” (from the terrific new record “Sky Blue Sky”) – “If you’re trying to paint a picture, but not sure what colors belong, just paint what you see, don’t let anyone say it’s wrong”