Art can be expressed in many forms; there are the traditional mediums like painting and sculpting, while newer expressions like the animation arts are being enjoyed by today’s kids in television. I am a firm believer that both mediums are valid expressions of art, and that our children will develop better creative minds with a healthy dose of both.

Let me talk about the more modern ways of making art. If you turn on the television, there will be at least two channels that are dedicated solely to airing cartoons or Japanese animation. There is nothing wrong with this, but remember that not all shows are developed with young kids in mind. There are certain shows with mature undertones, and others have bad art. Double check what your child is viewing, to make sure they’re not watching anything inappropriate.

Children can be exposed to healthy levels of television by a few clicks on the remote control, but what about the more classic ways of doing art? Let them explore other creative art forms; crayons would be all right for the younger ones. But the teenagers would probably appreciate more interesting hobbies; arts and crafts would be a good idea.

Hunt for a craft show in your area and attend the event with your child in tow. See if any of the arts and crafts interest your child, and encourage them to go for it. Say that with enough practice, he or she can do it as well, and perhaps make something even better. You can even ask the craftsperson selling the piece for some tips and tricks. They’ll be happy to help young artists.

Warning for parents; make sure that you watch your child’s first few attempts at making crafted items. As is it with everything, the first attempts will not be satisfactory; stay with them and encourage them to go forward. Watch them more carefully if they’re working with sharp tools with blades and points, and always be around just in case.

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