Comments on: Young At Art

By: Susan Striker

Susan Striker — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:06:29 +0000

Thank you so much for your comments supporting my work! Scribbles are the very building blocks of all of the letters of the alphabet, so encouraging children to scribble as much as possible when they are young will help them discriminate and recognize letters of the alphabet. I am always available to answer your questions and to make suggestions for age appropriate art projects that stimulate creativity and promote literacy. You can reach me at SusanStriker.com

By: grrrl

grrrl — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:41:24 +0000

Loved this blog. I own a paint your own pottery studio and am so sad to see how many moms tell their kids they are painting wrong! Then they correct their child’s master piece to make it look “good”. You can see the joy just drain from their whole being. Then they don’t want to paint anymore because mom will fix it.

While I love artistic expression, children should also know the boundaries and respect for their home. We don’t allow coloring on the walls, it has to be on paper or other found object designated for art. However, a wall can become an art space with washable paint or chalkboard paint. The kids should know that that is the space they can make their creations on.

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:38:37 +0000

This book is right on the mark! I used to draw on walls just like your kids and grew up to get a degree in Art History from Hopkins and then a Master’s in Art Education, so keep letting those kids be creative!!!

By: Sharon

Sharon — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:09:25 +0000

Well I didn’t know how much I was helping to grow a love for art in my daughter when I sighed and allowed her to “express” herself throughout the house when she was young.

When my daughter was two she took to emptying my liquid foundation into interesting designs on the off white couch in our living room – I literally started to hyperventilate. Later she took crayons to my framed pictures on the wall – she didn’t touch the picture but she thought she could add something to the matting. Go figure?

Anyhow, in a few weeks we’ll be moving her into residence at one of the finest art schools in the country. Nothing makes this teen happier than spending 6-7 hours working on a piece of art. I’m happy too! A very good post for new moms and validation for us older moms who weren’t too sure what we were doing!

By: Green SAHM

Green SAHM — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:26:04 +0000

I so agree about coloring books and such! We have some, but only because they were given to my kids. Mine are actually not so fond of crayons, but utterly adore markers and paints, so that’s what they use. Not so green, perhaps, but it means I can keep encouraging their creativity.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:29:45 +0000

Interesting — I never would have thought dot-to-dot or coloring books limited expression. Great post.

By the way — I love your office wall art : D

By: Maria

Maria — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:35:53 +0000

Awesome! This post makes me feel better about giving my son plain white paper to color on and never correcting the way he holds the color (or chalk if we are outside coloring the driveway…or house… LOL!).

By: Monica

Monica — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:04:36 +0000

Hey there!

Thanks for the great reminders.
I have to agree about the items to not give your kids. I went to Waldorf in my early school years and learned to draw with only big block beeswax crayons. Primary colors only, no black, peach, grey etc..I don’t think I actually held a pencil crayon or coloring book until I was..maybe 9? It was a very creative school for me and when I switched to public I remember being told that I was not supposed to color the entire world map in but only shade the edges in. Also, I remember being told that people looked funny with capes and robes and faces and hands, and that stick men were a better example to use. Hmmm…(I didn’t listen!)

My point is that it’s is amazing that the fewer tools we give our children to be creative the better. Not need for all the bells and whistles. Let their beautiful minds develop on their own.