I can’t draw !
I am not an artist !
I am not creative !

Do these thoughts cross your mind when you are asked to draw ?
That art is only for artists ? “My art doesn’t look like yours,” “I can’t do it!”

These are certain beliefs ingrained in us that we unconsciously pass on to our kids and  hinder their creativity.

So what does Art mean to you?

• The ability to do art is only inherited:
As children, for most of us art was a fun exploration and a tool to express our ideas and imagination. Think back to first grade. What were your favorite activities? Beyond recess, and perhaps lunch, we bet you that you enjoyed coloring or sculpting, or perhaps building things with blocks. You enjoyed creating because we are innately all creators in some form or fashion.Somewhere down the line we get caught up in comparing our art with others and inhibiting our natural expression. Consider art as a play in colours, just play!

• Art is only for pleasure…it teaches the kids nothing:
The education system today is moving from STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering & Math to create STEAM with and addition of A Arts. Arts is about incorporating creative thinking and applied arts in real situations. Art isn’t just about working in a studio and making Art pieces for display. Art is about discovering and creating ingenious ways of problem solving, integrating principles or presenting information.

• Art should be given to those that are talented artistically and may plan to use it for their career: 
Picture an architect, they use engineering, math, technology, science and arts to create stunning buildings and structures. Art is vital for all kids to gain the many benefits and skills it provides- cognitive, motor, social and the ability to express emotions that’s crucial for mental health.

Creativity is not a linear process that you learn certain soft or hard skills to start with, rather creativity guides and adapts certain skills in the process of discovering. So one needs to understand and allow the child to enjoy the process rather than give a sheet of objects to color. Young children might start with scribbling, dabbling and move on to lines, circles, shapes and then to a deeper expression and choice of what they feel or see around. Let them be given opportunities to expand.

Art is important for more than your child’s creative development. It’s not only fun and entertaining but also educational and required for developing key life skills.

The fact is, you don’t have to be an artist ! All you need to do is make it easy for our kids to gain access to art. Children don’t judge our art, it’s we who judge ourselves ! And the beauty is, you can learn and experience right along with them.

So let your child scribble away, get those hands messy with paint, let them make friends with colours and  create art !!