Personal Expression
Children’s art, as with adults art, is an expression of their feelings, desires, and often their interests. It is important that children are encouraged as they create. I remember a time when I was seven years old, and I was very interested in dinosaurs. My dad had taken me to see a Disney movie about the disappearance of the dinosaurs. So during art time in school, I drew a picture of a dinosaur walking off the page. The teacher, who did not understand what the picture was about, gave me a D-. Maybe she thought I was being a smart aleck. I’ll never know. Another time I drew a bird, but I knew birds were not one-dimensional creatures, so I drew the other side of the bird on the back of the paper. Because of the adults’ reactions, I thought there was something wrong with me. However, later as I studied to be an educator, I found out that it was a stage of development for children at that age. Not all children do the same thing, but it is normal. I tell these stories because if we are not careful, we can discourage a child’s desire to express themselves.
Healing and Joy
Arts and crafts can be a source of healing for some. Sometimes mental and physical conditions are apparent in a person’s drawing or work. Art can be therapeutic. Someone who is having a difficult time communicating with others may find art an outlet for physical and emotional conditions. Arts and crafts can bring joy to life. Children can be encouraged to talk about or share their art.