Unbeknownst to the world (until today), I have had an ongoing internal debate. It may not be an important topic, but it is one that consumes my thoughts nonetheless. I frame the issue in terms of creativity versus catastrophe.
Creativity is dear to my heart. I have loved to draw since I was a child, and I want to instill the same love of art in my children. But avoiding catastrophe is similarly crucial in my life, and I hope it will be to my girls, as well. And when it comes to toddlerhood, I struggle to encourage creativity while also avoiding catastrophe.
Each week at the library story hour, our fearless leader sets up a rather intricate craft that usually involves markers and crayons and paper and glue (she sent out a warning e-mail this week that our upcoming meeting will use paint. Paint! That has catastrophe written all over it!). And each week, without fail, Susie bites the heads off the crayons and Becky sucks on the glue sticks. And that’s about it. They have no desire to actually USE the implements to, you know, do a craft. I understand that this is probably age-appropriate behavior, but it is headache-inducing behavior all the same. And like avoiding catastrophes, I also like to avoid headaches.
But I have been wracked with guilt (okay, not really wracked – but it’s crossed my mind once or twice) that my girls get NO craft or art time at home because any artsy product I introduce ends up consumed, broken, or spilled. Even though I am not averse to letting the kids get dirty (I’m fine with doing laundry, and I think grass stains lend a certain seasoned maturity to jeans), I’m just not thrilled with the screaming matches that ensue when one girl wants ALL the crayons, or when her sister wants ALL the paper. I have enough trouble teaching the art of sharing that I don’t have energy leftover to teach art itself.
However, today we had a bit of a breakthrough. I have had a wonderful product stashed away at the bottom of the kids’ toy bin (more precisely, toy cardboard box) called an Aquadoodle. It’s a travel-sized mat that kids can “paint” on using water. I have pulled it out before, only to quickly yank it away from the girls, because it only came with one writing instrument, and that’s a certain start to WWIII. But I recently purchased a second brush, and my oh my, I think this may have solved my long-standing internal debate. The girls happily scrawled away without making a mess or starting a fight. Susie may have even drawn a moon, based on her emphatic declaration of “Moo! Moo!” Either that, or she had drawn a cow, a movie, a motorcycle or she was asking for “more,” given that all those words sound the same.
Here are the girls demonstrating their proper Aquadoodling techniques. And sporting the appropriate Aquadoodling headgear. Because being creative requires wearing a hat, apparently.
(Yes, Susie still tried to eat the brush, but at least there was no harm done. It’s a much more painless process than crayon-biting. I can’t tell you how much I dislike picking crayon bits out from between her teeth!).
Love the pictures, as well as the peaceful atmosphere it conveyed. I also like the pink on their cheeks ( no doubt from their boating adventure yesterday. ) They look somehow less like babies and more like little girls in these pictures. Is that a good thing or a bad thing???
Love,
Grammie
I could have written this!! It is hard to find a balance between art & catastrophe! Ha! Now that mine are 5 and twins almost 4 it’s getting better, but I do have a hard time with the mess.
Do you know they have a big aquadoodle mat? We bought it and extra brushes, but now my guys can unscrew the tops and love to dump it on the mat. So, even though it’s water it’s still a mess and inevitably water gets on the floor and someone steps in it and falls! Fun times!!
Mom – I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing yet. All I know is that time keeps marching onward!
Tina – I need to get one of those! Then the girls could REALLY get creative! It’s weird to think of my girls getting to the point where they can unscrew the tops, but I guess it’s coming sooner than I think!
My girls are only one but we use the magnadoodle all the time. Their scribbles are the most beautiful pieces of art I’ve ever seen! Crayola also has those special markers that only work on certain paper. You might try those too!
Emily:
What came to my mind on reading your debate was the new house. I envisage an art room where the walls are large canvases use to express what ever whim comes in Susie and Becky’s head. The walls might have made of paper tablets. Tear of a page for a clean canvas. The floor is linoleum for easy clean up and there are drawers full of paints, crayons and chalk of all colors and sizes. A perfect creative haven.
Janet – for whatever reason, the Magnadoodle hasn’t caught on with the girls yet. They use it for a few minutes and then get frustrated (I think because they have a tough time erasing the screen?). Hopefully they’ll grow into it. I need to try those special markers, too – that sounds great!
Dad – I think that would be YOUR dream room – although I imagine yours, in addition to having walls of paper so you can doodle to your heart’s content, would also be stuffed with tools and saws and wood! Ah, now THAT would be the life! 🙂
After reading your Dad’s comment I had to laugh. One of my girlfriends thought it would be a wise idea to paint part of her daughter’s room with chalkboard paint. She thought this would be a great way for her to express herself artistically. While she was able to express herself, she also expressed herself on every wall in the house. The chalkboard wall was only a good idea for a minute!