Every child in an artist – fostering creativity at home

Losing creativity as we get older

 

All   human beings are creative by nature.  
Young children know this in their hearts, but as we grow older, most of us begin to have doubts.

 

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
Pablo Picasso

We live within a culture that discourages creative thought and wants us to believe that artistic ability is rare.

Over time, most of us learn not to color (or think) outside the box.

At school, the successes in creative subjects are not valued as high as in mathematics or languages.

Being good at drawing is a insignificant and unimportant ability.

However, it's even sadder when we get schooled into the standards and mediocrity.

The lyrics to this song sum up perfectly the situation.

This song was written in 1978 and not much has changed since then. 

"Flowers Are Red" by Harry Chapin

The little boy went first day of school
He got some crayons and started to draw
He put colors all over the paper
For colors was what he saw
And the teacher said.. What you doin' young man
I'm paintin' flowers he said
She said,
It's not the time for art young man
 
And anyway flowers are green and red
 
There's a time for everything young man
And a way it should be done
You've got to show concern for everyone else
For you're not the only one
 
And she said
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen
 
But the little boy said
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one
 
Well the teacher said
You're sassy
There's ways that things should be
And you'll paint flowers the way they are
So repeat after me
 
And she said
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen
 
 
But the little boy said
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one
The teacher put him in a corner
 
She said
It's for your own good
And you won't come out 'til you get it right
And all responding like you should
Well finally he got lonely
Frightened thoughts filled his head
 
And he went up to the teacher
And this is what he said, and he said
Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen
 
Time went by like it always does
And they moved to another town
And the little boy went to another school
And this is what he found
The teacher there was smilin'
 
She said
Painting should be fun
And there are so many colors in a flower
So let's use every one
But that little boy painted flowers
In neat rows of green and red
And when the teacher asked him why
This is what he said
 
And he said
Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen.

Fostering creativity at home - help your child

Therefore, fostering creativity at home has never been more important.

Children need time, need calm.

Just so they can develop their skills, their innate creativity and find their own way.

You can read more about how coloring can improve your child's emotional well-being and promote divergent thought through creativity:

Inspire creativity – Kids colouringInspire creativity – Kids colouring

 

Inspiring creative thought doesn’t need to be difficult.

It can start as simply as coloring a new picture.

That’s why we’ve created a free coloring page for you to download and hand to your child, today.

The page is designed to inspire creative thought for your child, and to give you a few minutes of quiet to sip your coffee, color along, or enjoy your child peacefully (hurry up, the peaceful part might not last long).

Instantly download your free coloring page, grab some crayons or pencils here, and have fun.

You and your child deserve it.

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This blog post is an elaboration on the article by architect Valentina Carla Caiazzo  originally written for our Dipper's Post Magazine.