Last week, my four-year-old daughter found a surprising new medium for her sketching activities: Post-it Notes!
These colorful sticky sheets, typically used for quick notes or reminders, made their way from my workstation into her ‘Whimsical Dragon’ backpack. The result? A delightful explosion of creativity that now, adorns our wardrobes, kitchen countertops, refrigerators, desks, car seats, and every surface her little hands can reach!
The Finger Paints That Started It All
It all began with a thoughtful and simple gift—a pack of non-toxic finger paints we gave her for her first birthday. What started as a fun activity quickly blossomed into a vibrant and colorful journey of creativity and boundless imagination. In the beginning, the paints found their way onto our walls, transforming them into her very first canvas and filling our home with unexpected bursts of color.
(Note: More on child-friendly, non-toxic art supplies in another blog post…trust me, there are a lot of options to choose from!)
As her love for colors grew, so did her artistic exploration. Soon, her creative expressions expanded beyond the walls to include her clothes, backpacks, and an endless stack of paper. Each new medium became a playground for her imagination, where she brought her ideas to life with every brushstroke and fingerprint.
Over time, these artistic adventures led to the creation of treasured keepsakes—vivid handprints and footprints on paper, carefully framed as cherished memories of her early years. This colorful journey not only brought joy to our family but also showcased how a simple gift could inspire a lifelong passion for creativity.
This journey, which began with finger paints, evolved into one of my daughter’s favorite pastimes. Over time, she progressed from finger paints to crayons, colored pencils, and sketch pens. Now, she enjoys using acrylics and watercolors, finding new ways to express her creativity with each step.
Turning Creativity into a Family Ritual
What started as a simple moment of play became a cherished family tradition.
One rainy afternoon when an unexpected hailstorm interrupted our plans, my daughter and I picked up crayons and paper, and suddenly, we were both creating artwork, together. That afternoon of drawing for over four hours – sceneries, huts, ice cream, and more – sparked the idea of making art a regular family activity. Since then, every Friday, we transform our living room into a mini art studio, with vibrant paints, brushes, and endless imagination.
We now sit together as a family, each with our own watercolor brushes and colored papers, as we channel our inner Picassos. Our favorite paintings even make it to the fridge wall. For my daughter, art has become synonymous with family time, offering us all a chance to relax and bond.
Why You Should Introduce Your Kids to Art
1. Building Creativity and Expression: Introducing children to art isn’t just about keeping them busy; it’s a powerful tool for self-expression. Through her art, my daughter expresses feelings and observations she might not yet have the words for. Whether it’s a pencil sketch of her toys or a vibrant scene from our visit to the park, it’s fascinating to see the world through her eyes. Art provides children with a safe space to communicate their thoughts and emotions.
For example, look at the picture below. The first image on the left, evident that it was scribbled on a whiteboard with a green marker, was my first portrait… as seen through my daughter’s eyes. The floating lines on top of the head are hair, the ears are the two lines jutting out from the place they usually ought to be and the rest is self-explanatory. She drew it when she was 2 years old.
Moving on to the image on the right, drawn by the same toddler artist @ 3.5 years, you can see the improvement in detail 🙂 Hair is more prominent and so are the ears. Hands have five fingers each, and feet are covered with shoes. The highlight is illustrating my large body frame with an equally huge circle… Just imagine the laughs the portrait elicited…especially in the family WhatsApp groups. 😀
The word “ANAN” was supposed to be “NAANA”, which means dad/father in our language Telugu.
Notice the expressive eyes, the flowing hair, and the…unique fashion choices!
– Image 1 (Left): The eyes might be a little wonky, but the love is real 😀
– Image 2 (Right): This is what I look like to my child: big, round, and full of love.:P
2. Strengthening Focus and Patience: Art teaches patience and focus—valuable life skills for kids. When we introduced my daughter to watercolor painting, she quickly learned the importance of waiting for colors to blend or dry. This process helped her develop hand-eye coordination, perseverance, and concentration—skills that will serve her well beyond the art world. She can also explain a few of the watercolor techniques like wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and dry brush. The other day, she threw a fit as she was unable to decide on the colors needed for a graded wash 😀 Like most of the girls, this age, she settled for pink and purple!!
3. Cultivating Imagination and Open-Mindedness: Art encourages kids to think creatively and outside the box. Through her drawings, my daughter has learned to let her imagination run wild. Whether creating fantastical creatures or bringing imagined characters to life, art helps her think critically and develop problem-solving skills. The pictures below are a form of exercise, in which we go crazy with paints and later imagine the blobs (or swathes of colors) to be entities like tigers, fishes, weird turtle-man, and much more.
5. Art’s Impact on a Child’s Development: Drawing and painting have become a vital part of my daughter’s daily routine, contributing to her cognitive, emotional, and social growth. The simple act of using colors and a sketchpad has shaped her understanding of the world and her place in it. If you’re considering introducing art into your child’s life, I highly recommend it. It’s incredible how much it can enrich their development.
Adding a Splash of Color to Your Family Routine
As we continue to explore the world of colors together, I’m reminded of how art can be a simple yet powerful way to connect as a family. It’s not just about the final masterpiece—it’s about the shared moments of laughter, creativity, and growth. Introducing my daughter to the magic of colors has transformed our routine, turning everyday moments into cherished memories. If you’re looking to add more creativity to your family life, I encourage you to embrace art as a way to bond, create, and explore together.
