Parents Teachers

At this transitional time in our society, there is a pressing interest in the search for personal meaning, a sense of urgency for the sustainability for our earth, and a recognition of the importance of respectful and cooperative living in our highly connected world. I believe the arts are critical to the holistic development of the next generation to help fulfill personal and societal needs while deepening a connection to the natural world.

This Parent and Teacher section of Art Where You Are features thoughts and excerpts from my upcoming book, “Ways to Your Child’s Art: A Parent and Teacher Guide to Holistic Art Education.” Based on my 35 years of teaching, this book describes art as a powerful means of personal and creative growth. This momentous time in our earth’s history calls for imaginative thought and action as never before. It is sad and indefensible that American art education does not have the widespread support, deep appreciation, time and resources required to sufficiently meet the needs of children in this age where creative vision is not just nice—it is necessary.

At stake is not simply art education, but quality of life for ourselves and our planet. We are called to rise to the challenges of our times. Artistic and creative development is not for school years alone, but for a lifetime. If ever there was a time when the world needs to cultivate care, compassion, connectedness, wonder, and creativity it is now. Art is a means that can show us a way.

Although the arts are crucial to the healthy development of the whole child providing a heightened sense of deep personal connection to one’s self and the world, our current general educational environment and priorities leave many of our arts programs, and thus our children, diminished. Limitations of time, facilities, staffing, and funding in an educational era of standardization impact programs and thus our children.

Children are precious. Apart from the demands of the world they will inherit, the arts have their own intrinsic worth in the lives and learning of our youth. Children need time to experiment, to be curious, and to experience delight. A holistic approach means engaging heart, hands and mind within a fertile, interactive environment that fosters and values such rich artistic behavior.

So what can a caring adult do to? I have spoken with adults who fear they cannot encourage art because they do not understand the approach. Qualified art teachers are a critical component of the educational system. In addition, there is a great deal that willing parents and general educators can do as partners in the effort to cultivate and sustain artistic growth. That is what this section of the website explores in part, and what my book explores in more detail.

What does the adult need to know to create such an environment? What are meaningful approaches to artistic engagement? How do we cultivate the whole person through artistic endeavor? Which media should we provide? What are the varieties of ways that suggested media can be used? How does one encourage and respond to the making of art? How do we approach the world with an artistic sensibility? How do we introduce children to their artistic heritage?

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