Art and a Child’s Brain

Making Art: There's a Lot Happening!

“Creativity in and of itself is important for remaining healthy, remaining connected to yourself and connected to the world,” according to Dr. Christine Strang neuroscientist at University of Alabama Birmingham. It turns out there’s a lot happening in our minds and bodies when we make art—any kind of art. Art enhances brain function and well-being whether a person suffers from PTSD or a young child is developing a healthy brain, fine motor skills, creativity, emotional balance, a sense of accomplishment, or relieving stress. What does that mean for families? Provide some art basic art supplies in the home and sit down and do art with the kids in happy times, sad, or angry times.

Free Form

  Art supplies don’t have to be extensive or expensive.

 Young children can have a box or cabinet of computer paper, colored construction crayons, markers, paints, Playdough, child scissors tape, glue, and a place to display their art. Some children like postcard size paper rather that big sheets. Some like a piece of paper the size of a table to keep adding to the scene and the story.

Art Supplies Are Everywhere!

A few family members can sit down and join the little ones with soft music on, someone reading a book out loud, or the pleasure of silence and room for conversation from time to time.

 In free form art the artists are totally in charge, making what they want. If anyone is stuck, someone can suggest a topic to get the brain going: creating something happy or a recent family drama. It can be a walk in the woods, beach, hills, along the lake, in the snow.  What is your favorite, most beautiful, most quiet, safest place to be? Do you want to paint sunshine, a forest, some animals, spaghetti, a cherry pie, peanut butter sandwich, sledding, dolphins jumping out of water, or grandpa? 

Mandalas

  Some children enjoy premade designs. Mandalas are beautiful art circles that are contained within a square and are found in most cultures. In their most basic form, mandalas are circles arranged into sections that are all organized around a single, central point. Mandala coloring books are found in most stores in the book section and are part of soothing art therapy for all ages. 

Transform Ordinary Minds into Enlightened Ones!

The purpose is to help transform ordinary minds into enlightened ones and to assist with healing. Families find them relaxing and lots of fun. Check “How to Draw a Mandala” at art-is-fun.com.

   There are many rewards of art in the family.  It activates the hypothalamus and orbitofrontal cortex which are parts of brain associated with appetite regulation, calculating risk, impulse control, and detection of social rules.  For more see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com: wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons live and pod casts; Facebook, Pinterest, and You Tube since 2009.

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

Getting Back to School Routine

Time to Plan for School Again 

It’s time for families to plan for school again.  This is an exciting time for students of all ages as they look forward to new classes, activities, and friends. It’s also a good time to teach planned shopping, economics, and routine.

Helping Prepare

  You can include young children in your shopping plans for school supplies and new clothing.  Most families with elementary aged children will have a supply list from the school. Preschoolers may not have a supply list, but will enjoy buying something new like a t-shirt for the first day, a special folder for notes and papers, new chunky pencil, and crayons. Most students will need a backpack. Preschools often request a washable pillow or mat for napping and a change of clothes. 

 You can make this a good learning experience by reading the supply list together and writing down what is needed. Since most stores only discount supplies now, families may want to buy a few extra pencils, folders, and spiral notebooks to replace worn out items needed in a few months.

  Keep a few extra supplies around the house for older children like colored pencils, crayons, markers, ruler, and paper. Families will avoid making a late night emergency store stop.

Positive New Year

   Read local or on line ads and coupons with children. Teach them the importance of printed information, costs, budgets and price comparisons. Help children add up costs to determine the total.  Add on and explain state sales tax. 

 This interesting practical activity helps build positive attitudes about starting a new school year and reviews math and reading.  At the store, involve children in decision making as much as possible. 

Make Places to Organize School Materials and Clothes 

  Some families may be unable to purchase suggested supplies. Communities and religious groups will help.  New supplies help children feel this is a new beginning, and “I’m going to do my very best.”

   At home children need a special quiet spot with good 

lighting for writing, drawing, looking at/ reading books and working.  This can be a little desk, small table, or the dining room table near to family supervision. Help your child organize this space with some home supplies in a storage box and no distraction.

  You can mark supplies, backpacks, and jackets and other clothes with first and last names to have lost items returned. 

  Have a place in your house, either on a wall or on the refrigerator to display pictures, notices and good papers from school. 

Remember a Space to Display School Information

Go over homework papers and clean out the backpack every night. That’s how families know what is happening in school. 

It’s a good time to return to family conferences, an early bedtime, bath, nightly reading to relax, nutritious snacks, video and other technology rules.

For more see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com; wnmufm.org /Learning Through the Seasons; Pinterest and Facebook. 

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos