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Parents, make sure you keep crayons or markers, plus lots of paper on hand for your children! I think it’s every bit as important for a child to be able to draw whenever she wants to as it is to make sure she learns to read.

A child encouraged to be creative will have the best gift that you can give to her. A young boy encouraged to draw the family dog will reach beyond video games to entertain himself, and he can do it whenever he likes.

Become a family that creates for fun- so much better than TV!

Posted July 31, 2008 Comments(0)

This is one of the simplest, most satisfying of all crafts. When you pick a flower, make sure it is very fresh. Before pressing, it should be dry to the touch but not dried out. When I was a kid, we used to put flowers between layers of wax paper, and then put them in a heavy book, laid flat. Today the advice seems to be to put them between acid-free blotting paper first, the inside a heavy book (a phone book works quiet well.) The more weight on the flower, the faster the results will be.

Thick flowers are more difficult to press, but they can still be done. I’ve seen beautiful pressed roses, and I can’t think of flowers much thicker!

Posted July 27, 2008 Comments(0)

One of the easiest animals your child can make out of clay is the snake. Have her roll it out on a piece of paper; the more bits of different color the better. This seemingly simple exercise can give your child a lot of confidence in her ability to create. There is something magical about taking a thought or concept and making it appear in reality.

Who knows? You may have a budding Michelangelo on your hands!

Posted July 15, 2008 Comments(0)

I think everyone should write. Doesn’t everybody have a unique story to tell?

To me, some of the most interesting stories are the true ones, told by neighbors and friends. It would be a good idea for children to keep a journal, just for themselves. Think what a treasure trove of memories and ways of looking at the world this will be once they’re adults! Writing is a unique way to record your thoughts no matter the age.

And believe me- writing creatively is indeed a craft, a skill that can be developed by anyone. Try it yourself sometime- you may be surprised how enjoyable it can be.

If you need inspiration for that first sketch, try looking out the window to the nearest tree or bush! Or draw your pet cat, curled in a ball on the couch. Artists throughout history have created images of nature .

Animals and plants are rich in texture and design- perfect for the budding artist’s sketch pad. Don’t worry a bit if your first efforts are disappointing. Every step you take to capture life with your pencil is another step towards becoming an artist- someone who can see what’s there and interpret it creatively.