CREATIVITY FOCUSED ART

When your child returns home with artwork that looks messy and average, do you immediately assume they are not creative and have no artistic ability? What do you say to them?

I have been teaching a variety of art programmes in primary schools for almost a decade and I've heard many comments from my students: 

"My mum says art is not important." 

"My dad doesn't let me do art at home because it is messy." 

I actually don't blame parents fully for this mindset. I feel that what we have personally experienced in our own art education in our school years has influenced us to think, say and behave in ways that might not do our kids justice in their creative development.  

PARENTS, let's change how we talk to our kids regarding art. This is crucial now to help our kids survive better in an AI world. Let's shift the thinking to focus on the opportunity to learn new skills, new ways of thinking and problem solving. Don't say or imply it's not as important as their academic subjects. Show that you value their effort in thinking and creating. 

Some tips: First, we need to check on our expectations of what they can create at their age.
Ask these questions about their artwork: 

How did you decide to do this artwork?

What did you enjoy most in making this artwork? 

What did you learn from making this artwork?

Did the artwork turn out the way you wanted? 

These questions help you and your child focus on the learning that has occurred in making the artwork, not the final outcome. It is impossible for a child to create a neatly finished, display-ready piece of art on the first attempt. They just don't have enough skills from lack of practise. Adults would struggle with that expectation too! 

If we focus on seeking and praising the outcome only, there is pressure for schools and teachers to create lessons that focus on outcomes, rather than the process of creative thinking and learning. How do we teachers do that? By giving the child the ideas, creating templates, showing examples to copy. The child doesn't have to think too much. Just copy. This is not ideal for creativity development.

MOE schools allocate just one hour a week for art and that doesn't provide much for practise time needed for mastery. When I teach at schools, I have to figure out how to get the best outcomes for a class of 40 and this almost always means I cannot give the students enough time to think and time to experiment. Parents, you can do your part at home. When they bring back artworks made in school, ask them the questions above and ask if they would want to make it again at home. It is unlikely they will like all art forms and projects so let them practise the ones they like at home. Support their personal skills discovery by letting them think and experiment again at home. Ask them to teach you (to boost their confidence),   you get parent-bonding time and it will give your brain an anti-aging boost too! A win-win-win scenario!  

With AI here to stay and taking over rote work every day, let's put in more effort to nurture and teach our kids creative thinking survival skills and to develop a positive lifelong learning attitude. As Dr Huberman states in the video above, creative abilities are not just for those pursuing an artistic career. It applies to all professions. 

More than ever, our kids need to love learning to see, think and create. 

Have a fun and creative day! Cheers! 

❤️ Tr Laura