Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Nurturing the Years of Wonder (Forum Locked Forum Locked)
 4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Subject Topic: Encouraging creative drawing and writing Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
kristacecilia
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Feb 05 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 677
Posted: March 05 2010 at 1:06pm | IP Logged Quote kristacecilia

I have two sons, 4 and 6, who love art, poetry, story books, music, you name it.

But they won't draw pictures themselves. They won't come up with little stories. They are both pretty much straight shooters- the like puzzles, toy cars, and superheros. Not so much in the imaginary game genre.

I keep waiting for one of them to come tell me a silly story they made up or draw me a picture of something, but they never do. If I suggest they draw something, it's like pulling teeth.

Instead of drawing, my older son likes to make write and cut out labels for everything?

Any ideas how I can encourage them to be more creative?
Back to Top View kristacecilia's Profile Search for other posts by kristacecilia
 
CathinCoffeland
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: May 19 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 367
Posted: March 05 2010 at 1:33pm | IP Logged Quote CathinCoffeland

my ds was the same though replace cars and heros with penguins and swords:)

ive noticed that part of it is that my son is so much more introspective i guess than my dd- he has the creative side he just keeps it more to him self.

i would just say they are little and as long as they are enjoying your books/stories/music keep it up. and set examples by drawing and telling your own stories

my ds's love of puzzles and order moved into a fascinating ability to create huge block sculptures and creations- mostly for his penguins :)

perhaps some new building toys might be in order... they might be more creative in a physical way instead of a oral/writing way.

maybe they could cut up branches with daddy to make their own blocks...

one other thing my ds who will be 6 this month had no interest in things written/drawn until on a whim we got his eyes checked- he was so far sighted he could see only
colorful blurs with in ten feet- he just compesnated really well his first words after getting glasses were "the baby is even cuter than i thought!)

the doc said that boys rarely get their eye problems diagnosed until they are much older that girls and many eye probs are attributed to behavior probs. we actually had to order boy frames they had only pink in the little sizes

if as they get older they show 0 interest in anything written you might consider an eye exam. but otherwise i wouldnt worry

__________________
-Maggie Annie
http://craftyincoffeeland.blogspot.com/
Back to Top View CathinCoffeland's Profile Search for other posts by CathinCoffeland Visit CathinCoffeland's Homepage
 
kristacecilia
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Feb 05 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 677
Posted: March 05 2010 at 1:38pm | IP Logged Quote kristacecilia

Thanks, Maggie. :)

I am glad to know that maybe it's a boy thing. Or at least that my boys aren't the only ones who love logic and order!

They have had their eyes checked within the last year, but I will keep it in mind if there seems to be long term problems.

I like your idea about building toys. Actually, we're getting DS1 a nice tool set from Montessori Services for his 6th birthday in a few weeks. I will suggest the branch blocks idea to his dad. They do love legos, but mostly they want to follow the directions in the little guides to make things exactly like in the pictures.
Back to Top View kristacecilia's Profile Search for other posts by kristacecilia
 
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
Posted: March 05 2010 at 2:38pm | IP Logged Quote JodieLyn

puzzles, toy cars and superheros can all truly involve the imagination.. what you may have is boys that aren't articulating what's going on in their heads. I have at least one like that and every once in a while.. maybe if i'm peeking around a door frame into a room etc.. I'll catch conversations between cars or by superheros etc.

__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4

All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
Back to Top View JodieLyn's Profile Search for other posts by JodieLyn
 
Teachin'Mine2
Forum Pro
Forum Pro


Joined: Jan 22 2010
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 242
Posted: March 05 2010 at 3:19pm | IP Logged Quote Teachin'Mine2

Maybe you can model some of this for them.

I'm thinking about creating a Tom Sawyer like situation.      Make a bit of a production about what you're doing, without actually asking them to join you.   Clear the table, bring out the best colored pencils, markers, crayons, whatever and some awesome card stock.   Then arrange the supplies and sit and think of what you'll do.   Maybe have scrap paper that you start doodling some things on and whatnot.   I think at this point you'll have lots of questions about what you're up to.    

Then begin your own work of art complete with a poem or something and you may have them asking if they can join you.   I think the main thing with the little ones is not to criticize or correct anything they do creatively.   Give them full freedom of expression by saying something like - art is never wrong. We used to say art is neither right nor wrong, it just is.   Now I have to give her a grade for it.    

__________________
mom of one 13yo dd
Back to Top View Teachin'Mine2's Profile Search for other posts by Teachin'Mine2
 
Teachin'Mine2
Forum Pro
Forum Pro


Joined: Jan 22 2010
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 242
Posted: March 05 2010 at 3:23pm | IP Logged Quote Teachin'Mine2

Another thought came to mind.   Take washable paints, and take some of the toy cars and "drive" them through some paint and create designs on the paper that way.   Maybe you can give them poster board and ask if they'd like to paint a town - with streets and all - that they can drive their cars (without the paint on the wheels) though.   They might like to use larger paint brushes rather than smaller ones.   Even the small paint rollers might work well for them.   

__________________
mom of one 13yo dd
Back to Top View Teachin'Mine2's Profile Search for other posts by Teachin'Mine2
 
kristacecilia
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Feb 05 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 677
Posted: March 05 2010 at 3:28pm | IP Logged Quote kristacecilia

JodieLyn wrote:
puzzles, toy cars and superheros can all truly involve the imagination.. what you may have is boys that aren't articulating what's going on in their heads. I have at least one like that and every once in a while.. maybe if i'm peeking around a door frame into a room etc.. I'll catch conversations between cars or by superheros etc.


This may be the case, especially with the four year old. He actually does act out very imaginative games with his cars, toy people, even his fingers if he can't find anything better to use.

The six year old really is very black and white. Like I said before, for fun (he came up with this idea all on his own) he spent two days writing out, cutting out, and taping labels on his toy bins in his free time. He is very logical, orderly, and literal.

He does occasionally do creative things on the big electronic keyboard we have. He loves, loves, loves music and has taught himself to play the keyboard, The other day he made up a song.

So maybe wanting them to express themselves creatively on paper is like exercising a muscle they don't use much?
Back to Top View kristacecilia's Profile Search for other posts by kristacecilia
 
kristacecilia
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Feb 05 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 677
Posted: March 05 2010 at 3:28pm | IP Logged Quote kristacecilia

Teachin'Mine2 wrote:
Maybe you can model some of this for them.

I'm thinking about creating a Tom Sawyer like situation.      Make a bit of a production about what you're doing, without actually asking them to join you.   Clear the table, bring out the best colored pencils, markers, crayons, whatever and some awesome card stock.   Then arrange the supplies and sit and think of what you'll do.   Maybe have scrap paper that you start doodling some things on and whatnot.   I think at this point you'll have lots of questions about what you're up to.    

Then begin your own work of art complete with a poem or something and you may have them asking if they can join you.   I think the main thing with the little ones is not to criticize or correct anything they do creatively.   Give them full freedom of expression by saying something like - art is never wrong. We used to say art is neither right nor wrong, it just is.   Now I have to give her a grade for it.    


I love this idea.

I may do this on Monday with them.
Back to Top View kristacecilia's Profile Search for other posts by kristacecilia
 
ekbell
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: May 22 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 747
Posted: March 05 2010 at 6:24pm | IP Logged Quote ekbell

I'll add my two cents in agreement for modelling creativity but otherwise letting it be.

Not everyone likes to share stories.

I spent much of my youth daydreaming my way through various fantastic happenings but I didn't like trying to share them and rarely even acted them out with my toys (most toys had too much detail to be suitable-the fixed expressions were particularly imagination killing). The closest I'd voluntarily gotten to story-writing or telling before I had children was as a GM for a roleplaying game in my twenties.

The thought of anyone else knowing about my fantasies was abhorrent.

Back to Top View ekbell's Profile Search for other posts by ekbell
 
violingirl
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: Nov 27 2008
Location: Missouri
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 219
Posted: March 06 2010 at 12:26am | IP Logged Quote violingirl

My 4 year old is really black and white about things too, and I've been able to get him to use a bit of imagination by taking turns story telling. I tell a bit of a silly story and ask him to fill in details (like character names or what food they could be eating or whatever), or we trade back and forth one sentence at a time and try to make the story as silly as we can. It took a few times before he got the idea, but now he asks to tell stories often and it has been the catalyst for him telling some short things completely on his own.

I totally love this idea:

Teachin'Mine2 wrote:
Maybe you can model some of this for them.

I'm thinking about creating a Tom Sawyer like situation.      Make a bit of a production about what you're doing, without actually asking them to join you.   Clear the table, bring out the best colored pencils, markers, crayons, whatever and some awesome card stock.   Then arrange the supplies and sit and think of what you'll do.   Maybe have scrap paper that you start doodling some things on and whatnot.   I think at this point you'll have lots of questions about what you're up to.    

Then begin your own work of art complete with a poem or something and you may have them asking if they can join you.   I think the main thing with the little ones is not to criticize or correct anything they do creatively.   Give them full freedom of expression by saying something like - art is never wrong. We used to say art is neither right nor wrong, it just is.   Now I have to give her a grade for it.    


__________________
Erin
DS (2005) DS (2007) DD (2012)
Mama In Progress
Back to Top View violingirl's Profile Search for other posts by violingirl Visit violingirl's Homepage
 
kristacecilia
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Feb 05 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 677
Posted: March 06 2010 at 6:55am | IP Logged Quote kristacecilia

violingirl wrote:
My 4 year old is really black and white about things too, and I've been able to get him to use a bit of imagination by taking turns story telling. I tell a bit of a silly story and ask him to fill in details (like character names or what food they could be eating or whatever), or we trade back and forth one sentence at a time and try to make the story as silly as we can. It took a few times before he got the idea, but now he asks to tell stories often and it has been the catalyst for him telling some short things completely on his own.


Love this idea! They do enjoy being silly so this could really work.

Thanks!
Back to Top View kristacecilia's Profile Search for other posts by kristacecilia
 

Sorry, you cannot post a reply to this topic.
This forum has been locked by a forum administrator.

  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com