see+think+create

Why Choose Creativity-focused Art Lessons? 

I have been teaching a variety of art programmes in primary schools for many years and raised two SOTA kids. I feel that what we have experienced in art in our growing up years has influenced us to think, say and behave in ways that might not do our kids justice in their creative development and to survive better in an AI world. First, we need to check on our expectations of what they can create at their age. When they return home with artwork that looks messy and average, do you immediately assume they are not creative and have no artistic ability? Next time, stop yourself and ask these questions instead: 

How did you decide to do this artwork?

What did you enjoy most in making this artwork? 

What did you learn from making this artwork?

Did the artwork turn out the way you wanted? 

These questions help you and your child focus on the learning that has occurred in making the artwork, not the final outcome. It is impossible for a child to create a neatly finished, display-ready piece of art on the first attempt.  Adults would struggle with that expectation too! If we focus on seeking and praising the outcome only, there is pressure for schools and teachers to create lessons that focus on outcomes, rather than the process of creative thinking and learning. How do we teachers do that? By giving the child the ideas, creating templates, showing examples to copy. The child doesn't have to think too much. Just copy. 

MOE schools allocate just one hour a week for art and that doesn't provide much for practise time needed for mastery. When I teach at schools, I have to figure out how to get the best outcomes for a class of 40 and this almost always means I cannot give the students enough time to think and time to experiment. Parents, you can do your part at home. When they bring back artworks made in school, ask them the questions above and ask if they would want to make it again at home. It is unlikely they will like all art forms and projects so let them practise the ones they like at home. Support their personal skills discovery by letting them think and experiment again at home. Ask them to teach you too and you get parent-bonding time and will give your brain an anti-aging boost too! 

With AI here to stay and getting more powerful every day, let's put in more effort to nurture and teach our kids creative thinking survival skills and to develop a positive lifelong learning attitude. More than ever, they need to love to learn.

Have a fun and creative day! Cheers! 

❤️ Tr Laura 

WHY CRAFT?

1. Better hand-eye and spatial coordination. Maintain or improve dexterity.

2. Practise sustainability. Refuse, reduce and reuse by repurposing or creating art with used stuff. 

3. Focus that's involved with crafting stimulates areas of the brain that have been dormant.

4. Keep the brain sharp and more well-rounded. 

5. Improve your mood. 

6. Doing something productive helps get your mind off other things and simply just makes you happier.

7. Reduce phone usage.

8. Learn new skills. 

9. Crafting promotes natural conversation and curiosity about other people's projects, ideas and backgrounds. 

10. Prolonged sense of pride of having a quality piece created by you is priceless.