Body Art
Today I decided to work on my issues with the kids using the art supplies on themselves. It was a big no-no growing up, and so far I haven’t allowed it at our house. But in thinking through why I don’t allow it, I realized that my objections are;
1 – that is ingrained in me that it is not OK. While I have no problem with my mom not allowing it, I don’t think that in itself is a good reason to forbid it at my house.
2 – I get frustrated that they aren’t using the art supplies on the paper, or whatever it is they are supposed to be decorating. I think this is because there isn’t an end ‘product’. That, of course, doesn’t matter to the kids at all. Or rather, they are very happy to BE the end product. In my mind, that’s not how this creative process works. How are they going to learn to be creative if I don’t force them to do it the right way? How are they going to appreciate the process if they don’t have something to show for it? How will they ever learn about different mediums, if I allow them to experience them using the biggest sensory organ they have???? Ahem.
So, this afternoon the kids got to decorate themselves with markers. I let them do it outside, because I can always handle more myself outside, and because it’s an easy line to draw, if I need parameters around this. They had a great time, and I had fun watching them. They got to decorate my feet, which was an even bigger hit than drawing on themselves.
After a bit, Chava dropped some markers through a hole in the slide. After looking it over, I knew there was no way to get them back. Ian, however, said that he was going to “be creative” and decided that putting lots of mud down the hole was a good way to get them back. They spent a good half an hour working on that.
Which gave me time to finish my own project – my first crocheted soaker. I’ve been wanting to try wool covers for awhile, but I’ve been too intimidated.
June 4th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
[...] I mentioned in an earlier post, I finally finished my first wool cover. I have wanted to try wool for awhile, but I’ve been [...]
June 11th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
[...] Let me fix that for you!” They thought it was great, especially since I hadn’t yet lifted the ban on body art. It got us right out of our funk, and they kids loved telling Daddy about it that [...]