AuntyB: During the last post, I spoke a little of my philosophy of art and drawing. Art is not limited to three crayons and a piece of paper. Here are several more suggestions. Others will occur to you as you and your child try out different media.
- Clay work is another table media. Demonstration of rolling to make balls and snakes is fun. They may experiment on their own from there. A blunt edged plastic knife is fun to cut up the clay. Note: fun!
- Prepainting skills can be done outdoors with a three-inch paintbrush and a bucket of water. Toddlers can "paint" walls, outdoor furniture and ride-on toys with paintbrush and water. Remember, it is the process that they love.
- Bubbles! Try a plastic flyswatter with a shallow bin of soap solution. These are easy to dip, wave and create bubbles. It is fun,too. Art should be a happy experience that gives expression to the body's discovery to tactile capabilities.
- Cotton. A large wad of cotton to be pulled apart is another tactile experience.
- Ribbon. Lengths of colored satin ribbon may be sorted and through the fingers. Tied to sticks, ribbons make fascinating wands to swish through the air.
Art is about color, movement and interaction with media. I welcome you to add your ideas to this list.
Grandmama: As you read these possibilities and others occur to you, I'd like to point out that AuntyB has two eyes on her charge. And, you should, too. Some of these items are choke hazards. There are other dangers in this world, too. Like snakes and outdoor electrical outlets.
You can't childproof the entire world. Really, you don't want to, for to do so will narrow your toddler's choices and experiences to a few. The years from birth to age three are hands-down the most critical years in brain development. Limiting experiences during these years will inhibit that growth.
This means you must be involved. You provide the opportunity, the safety and the one-on-one interaction. These are the days when for saying "out of your mouth!" repeatedly.
These are the days of wonder. Days of discovery. Days of joy, if you let them be.
In order for that to happen, you also have to be somewhat "hands-off". After starting a new activity, it's enough to demonstrate the basics, allowing your child to take off in investigation from there. This is not performance or creativity to a standard.
If you must, think of these expressions as experiential art. Many adult artists have "their" own media, which just "feels" right to them. At the university level, they may be required to experience many media hands-on with the same kind of minimal instruction you give your toddler. It makes them try out media they would never have on their own. The experience of each brings new dimension to their chosen fields.
Artists, like children, often find that their desired experience in art is in the doing, the creating. It is not uncommon for them not to have too much interest in the finished product, going on instead to the next. Through your child's work, he or she is really preparing for the next level while finding total absorption and joy in the moment. You can also find that joy in working with your toddler, and in letting them work, when you stay in the moment, undistracted by other concerns.
Don't forget to add your comments and ideas!
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