Introduction

The International Dots Day is a celebration. A Celebration of Creativity. A Celebration of Confidence. A Celebration of Courage. A Celebration of Self-Expression. On every 15th of September, we celebrate the significance of encouraging children to express themselves creatively. Although the importance of a dot was popularized by Peter H. Reynolds through his book The Dot, International Dots Day originated after a teacher from America introduced this book to his students. As part of the celebration, we honour and acknowledge the need to encourage children and build confidence in them to express themselves..

But Why Is It Necessary?

Young children often go through a phase where they compare themselves to others, even with siblings. For example, when another child’s artwork receives more praise and if their work is ignored, it can lead to feelings of inadequacy. But note that this isn’t limited to art—it applies to many aspects of life. As parents, caregivers, or teachers, it’s important to appreciate all their efforts equally, without labelling one piece of art as "better" than another. Ultimately, we should affirm that every art has a meaning, and art is not just about drawing; it's about imagination, problem-solving, and observation.

So, How Do I Encourage Creativity For Kids To Explore Art?

Encouragement is one of the biggest factors in Building confidence through art and allowing kids to dig deep to explore art freely. This is where the power of a simple dot comes in. A dot is more than a full stop. A dot is not just a shape. For instance, if you ask me what would be the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word dot, it would be a period symbol. But to some, it could be a starting point to draw something beautiful. A dot has different meanings and depends on an individual's perception.

And here's the best part—Using dots can be a wonderful way to spark your child's creativity. But one should know how to use dots effectively. So, here are some tips you can use to encourage your child's creative journey with dots.

1) Start With A Simple Dot

Place a Dot of different sizes on a sheet of Paper or a Canvas and ask your little one to create something out of it. Let them know that the dot is a starting point and the rest of the art can be done by them. This will help them feel relaxed and not overwhelmed, unlike handing them an empty canvas and asking them to create art. Plus, letting them build something out of a dot will promote imaginative play and build self-expression through art for kids.

2) Give Them Dots Prompts

Talk about dots with your child. Show objects around them with a similar shape of a dot and ask them, Can you also find dots around you? or talk about how they can observe different shapes from the world around them. Talk to them about observing shapes or just dots and use Earth as an example— Did you know Earth is also a dot in the universe? This will help a child to observe shapes with objects around their environment. Apart from learning shapes, they also build their observation skills.

3) Use Different Tools For Dots

While we explored how Dots have different meanings and are based on individual perceptions, placing a dot also has multiple ways and options. It's time to explore beyond the brushes! Place sponges or cotton and ask your child to place a dot using them. If not, you can guide them on placing a dot with a finger. Using different objects or tools improves the overall sensory experience for young kids.

4) Storytelling With Dots

Here's a fun activity idea for you:

• Ask your child to place a dot on multiple sides of the canvas or paper.
• Once the dots are placed, encourage them to create a story surrounding the dots.
• You can tag along and draw characters for your story with the dots.

This way, you maintain the interactive play in the right direction plus build confidence by giving them a platform to narrate their story.

Here are some Dots Printables for your reference:

To download the full printable collection, click here.

Conclusion

In the book The Dot by Peter Reynolds, the protagonist also goes through this demotivated phase, and it is only when her teacher recognizes her art she decides to challenge herself and build her art game.

All it takes is our encouragement to let your child explore their art journey. And of course, All you need is a Dot!