Show March Is h Childrens Children's Ir An Month March Is Childrens Children's A Art r t Month and Wand th the ways to to encourage encourage age art In children may s seem seem em strange indeed to those parents parents parents parents' par par- with the very best of In in- tendons Here are some guidelines guidelines guide 1 lines lines' that have been developed by guidance experts with The Childs Child's World Inc a Chicago educational publishing firm BEFORE launching into the thedo thedos thedos do dos and of this subject It is important to understand understand understand un un- that art in fn general and art for lor children are two entirely different things The emphasis in adult art is on the finished product whereas In childrens children's art the most important important important tant thing is the pure fun freedom freedom freedom free free- dom of expression and creative stimulation that he has while working Although widely used in this country the coloring g book does nothing to encourage a childs child's self expression In fact there is probably nothing that has had such a devastating effect on children and their art as this simple book of outlines which the child chUd fills in with col col- col- col or IT INTIMIDATES INTIMIDATES the c h i 11 1 d because he knows he cannot draw a dog for instance near nearly nearly ly Iy so well wen as the tho one he colors in the coloring book When asked to draw a dog he remembers remembers re reo re- re members the tho coloring book dog and responds with I cant can't draw The same lime same drawbacks apply for cutouts and patterns Art to be effective should be an expression of the true feelings of the person regardless of his age or abilities Cutouts and patterns impose upon the child someone else's concepts which the child may not understand THEY TilEY ARE a crutch upon which the child becomes de de- pendent Without them he feels lost and hasn't the confidence to use hi his l imagination independently Give the young oung child thick crayons of good quality Do not buy the boxes with a large selection se set lection of of colors as this deprives deprives de de- de the child of the experience experience exper exper- lence of producing new colors by mixing If thick crayons are not available break the thin ones in two and remove the pa paper r before presenting them to the child as many children are disturbed when the thin crayons break during use IT IS MOST Important to the child and to his mother that a place be designated for his artistic artistic artistic ar ar- ar- ar endeavors A low table with a a washable top is ideal and it should be placed in a quiet t corner where the child has adequate light The floor should be covered with linoleum Provide the young artist with an apron a smock or an old shirt with the arms cut off to protect his I clothing DONT DON'T SHOW your child how to draw If you show your child I how to draw a dog it will be your art and not his Instead ask him questions that will stimulate his imagination and Increase his sensitivity to the things around him If he wants to draw a picture of his dog you might ask him how many legs the dog has are his ears and tail tall short or long is the dog all one color etc By thinking of his dog Inthis in inthis inthis this detail he will become I much more aware of it and much more aware of detail in general ANOTHER important dont revolves around what your children draw Dont Don't tell them what to draw Children can draw only those things that they know and that are I import important port port- ant and familiar to them If your child cannot think of a subject to draw perhaps it is because he has not had enough significant experiences A trip to a zoo or even the supermarket ket can provide subject material material material ma ma- for the young artist Or perhaps he has not learned to toi really observe what is going on on around him You might make a point of calling his attention to the details of his surroundings to stimulate his powers of observation tion You Youcan Youcan Youcan can also discuss with him family fam lam family ily ili experiences in which he has participated FOR EXAMPLE EXAMPLE- the little girl who has helped her mother make cookies may find that a good subject As she recalls the |