Shared Success

Children may not get many opportunities to venture out into the world on their own each day.  It is normal for parents to want to keep them near, protect and nurture them.  In the art studio, however, a safe place is created where children can experiment, discover, learn and master new skills comfortably.  At the same time, parents can know that their children are engaging and thriving, and that they can still be a part of that creative growth.

The artist above was joined by both his mother and father as they built with clay.  Though he came up with many ideas on his own, receiving support and encouragement from his parents allowed him to continue working with confidence and extend his imagining even further.

Wanting to form a specific shape and flatten the clay more effectively, the artist chose to try a new tool.  He was having some difficulty, while trying this on his own.  Before stepping in to solve the problem for him, however, the artist's parents allowed him to think and to figure it out himself.  By making mistakes and learning from them, the artist was able to figure out how to use the rolling pin.

Moving the tool across the clay, the artist asked his dad for some help to push it down harder.  Feeling successful in his own abilities allowed him to ask for assistance when it was needed.  Such teamwork and effective communication improve not only classroom functioning or family relationships, but life skills in general.

Seeing that the artist had almost mastered use of the tool, his mom offered a few other tips on how to keep it steady.  Pointing out her son's strengths, she reminded him of personal attributes that he might have forgotten, and which helped him to complete the task more successfully.

Being able to share in the process and the product, the artist and his parents value this time even more.  Parents who nurture creativity from an early age help their child to imagine further possibilities and increase intelligence.  Seeing how their child works on his own, and then how he incorporates available information, helps the parents to understand how to assist him in the future.  Art making is critical for building knowledge and self-esteem, and is that much more meaningful when it is done with supportive loved ones.