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Style Magazine

Young at Art

Jan 31, 2009 04:00PM ● By Super Admin

As a “creative” kid, I knew firsthand how stressful and out of place that label could be. I can’t tell you how many beautiful spring Saturdays my father would usher me out to the local park so I could chew my mitt in the outfield and watch baseballs fly over my head. I don’t blame my dad for giving it the old college try – he was only trying to share with me the activities he enjoyed as a child. The problem was...I didn’t share his enthusiasm for sports. I wasn’t particularly lazy or protesting the grass-stained polyester uniforms per se, but I had this feeling my time could be spent in a more productive, enlightening manner. Finally, they did see my artistic “potential” through my love of drawing and quickly invested in a rather handsome art kit and drafting table. The mitt and polyester are now a faded memory.

Unfortunately, many artistically inclined children find few resources readily available to them at school or at afternoon programs, with athletics taking front and center in funding and participation. Parents tuned in to their child’s creative needs may need to get “creative” themselves, seeking out the right resources and activities. Here are a few ideas to get your little Michelangelo or Martha Graham on the right track.

Observe
What kind of toys are they drawn to? What do they like to do in their spare time? Paying close attention to their leisure time may reveal clues about their artistic interests. Those doodles on the Etch-a-Sketch, carefully placed blocks, or extraordinary sculptures in Play-Doh may hint at a future masterpiece. Who knows, all that banging on the highchair could be the beginnings of the next Ringo Starr.
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For more local kids' Art Programs be sure to pick up this month's copy of Style – Folsom, El Dorado Hills edition. Check out the Distribution tab on this Web site for some of our newsstand locations. Or, to order a copy of this issue, please email  [email protected], or call 916-988-9888.