When I did my 4 year degree in Education (ECE) it was drummed in to us that to foster childrens creativity, you were never to draw for them or give them colouring in pictures etc as this would stifle their creative freedom. I never really quite agreed with all of this, but who was I to question it. In fact, a peer got slandered on her practicum by a lecturer because she had drawn a face for a child.
I guess we all learn in different ways but as a youngster I firmly remember watching older kids draw at school and copying their ways of drawing and representing images. I remember loving the old 'Lettering Book' and being inspired by different fonts. Not necessarily copying them but it gave me new tools and ways to draw. Since my degree, thinking has changed but I'll always hold a slightly bitter outlook on certain things that I was brainwashed to believe.
Today my five year old Dominik was adding to his invention collection. He wanted to add a slide to his Grandy's bach (holiday home). It was to go down to the water and was to be a 'tube' as he put it. He questioned me how to draw such a shape. I turned my back on my degree, and showed him how you can draw a cylinder. He was thrilled, and confidently went to draw his slide. I think I will show him how to draw other 3d shapes, it might help him represent some of his ideas better.
We also used a book, a lift the flap one called 'See inside how things work' - it's amazing, and both kids love it. It even had a waterslide pump illustration in it, so this helped Dom understand his new design so much better. You can buy the book from book depository ....free international postage, the most tempting site I know!
So often I disagree with things I have been told. Ironically, teachers college taught and strongly emphasized critical thought, but it was only about ourselves, and our shortcomings, not about what was being taught to us. I guess putting on my parent hat, it would appear obvious to show a child how to draw something if they asked. Sometimes the gut intuition of a parent is way more logical than the learnings of an educated 'teacher.'
I always show my kids how to draw, 1) they love that you are doing the same thing as they are and 2) they don't get as frustrated in trying to draw something and can't because they don't know how!
ReplyDeleteI also colour with them I have no idea if that is for their benefit or just my guilty pleasure!