Kids and Creativity
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once (they) grow up.”
― Pablo Picasso
I walk my two dogs every morning and let my mind wander along little pathways of contemplation. This morning, I was thinking about the creative and artistic lives of children in modern America. I was probably thinking about this because as I make purchasing decisions about everything that will be in the store – furniture, displays, products – I try to anticipate what my customers will need to feel excited and at home. I decided from the outset that I would carve out a children’s space in the store so they can play and create while their grown-ups shop.
I wonder if public schools are giving children ample opportunities to use art supplies to make their own creative products, particularly as they progress through elementary to middle and high school. When my daughter, now 26, was in kindergarten, she had a fabulous teacher and the public elementary school she attended was wonderful. This was in Northern California where the state learning standards were high; even preschool kids had to meet benchmarks in reading, writing and arithmetic. She got a packet every week with reading passages, spelling and vocabulary activities, and coloring pages with specific instructions about what colors went where. One Thursday night when we were hustling to get the packet completed, there was just the coloring sheet left. She gave a huge sigh and said, “Why can’t they just give us a blank sheet of paper so I can draw what I want.” My favorite pieces from her childhood are the paintings and sculptures where the instructor gave the kids a broad assignment and then let them run with it.
A six year-old’s interpretation of a dragon
What does this have to do with a yarn shop? River City Yarn & Fiber intends to be a hub of creativity and learning for everyone. We believe that nurturing creativity and artistic expression depends on practice that is possible with access to art supplies, then cultivated and encouraged by all of the adults in a child’s life. Preschool and elementary school are places where children form the habit of being creative and developing the fine motor skills to manipulate paints and crayons; to fold paper and glue beads and macaroni and sparkles; to play with the soft fuzzies like pipe cleaners and pom poms. I promise that kids of all ages who come into the shop can find fun, creative kits and materials to bring their imaginations to life.
I’m curious to read your thoughts on children and creativity!
