The little one and I had a mummy and daughter afternoon today. In my "mummy time", which isn't as much as I'd like, I try to make/ paint/ draw something together. Today it was collage work. While this isn't technically my creative pursuit, I think at times parents forget to give themselves credit for the creative energy that we put into raising a child.
In Amanda Blake Soule's book, The Creative Family, she talks about giving children access to high-quality art materials. She writes "The materials we give our children to create with send them a message about how we value their creative endeavours, their time, and their work.... our children will know that their work is important to us. They will know we believe they are worthy of the "good stuff"."
This really struck a chord in me. I look at all the beautiful materials I love to use, I'd love to bring my little one up appreciating their gorgeousness. So out came the (handmade, hand-screenprinted) Japanese paper scraps and she had a ball.
It's funny though, you look at this picture and you could possibly imagine a quiet peaceful day, with a quiet peaceful child. But rather, this was one of the few moments in the day she took to slow down. Amidst toddler tantrums and a wilful child trying to assert her independence, there was this creative time, some lovely puddle splashing and a trip to the sushi shop, where we ate sushi in the store together just like grownups. Those are the moments I want to remember.
For more creative spaces, here is the place to visit.
9 comments:
Lovely post, Melanie.
A beautiful sentiment too.
(But given how I have 3 children who can butcher a pipecleaner and a toilet roll in under 30 seconds, I just couldn't bear to let them loose on anything of significant quality)
Gorgeousness!! She looks so at home with those beautiful papers!!!
You know, you'll both remember the good little moments and forget about the tantrums....
I'm sure she'll come to love good art supplies and will cherish the time you two spent together on arts and crafts! I still remember my aunt letting me loose on all her "scraps" and how much FUN it was!
Love it Melanie! Mum tried with us, but I really loathed working on butchers paper as a child, and still don't get wax crayons, so the boys got the decent stuff growing up...always felt poor tools just frustrate rather than nurture. And we spent some lovely moments having grown up coffees together (me coffee, they gelati!)
Fantastic!!! Thanks for the reminder. Children feel valued in so many different ways. :)
Lovely post.
I remember how frustrated I used to get as a little kid with the school supplies of clag glue, scissors that don't cut, and blunt pencils. Luckily at home I had great stuff!
I agree with Amanda. I've been an art teacher in a primary school for 16 years and I always buy the very bes quailty materials my budget will allow for. I absolutely refuse to buy those horrible streaky 'kiddy' paints many schools buy because if you are going to get bold delightful satisfying works you want to give the kids the best you can. Oh and Liza i sympathise there is nothing worse than those blunt round nose scissors.
Happy creating with your little one- as the daughter of an artist I can tell you I remember many an hour of happy times 'playing' with his stuff in his studio.
lovely post, so true too. Our little ones are such sensory little creatures I'm sure they can pick up much smaller differences in colour, texture etc than we can so a beautiful textured and coloured washi would be treasure and we dont scrimp on food or clothes so why art materials? x
Awwww I am sure little gorgeous will remember those special time with her mummy forever too :)xx
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