I remember when my daughter Hannah started drawing. It was a few months before her fourth birthday, and WHAM!, her creativity just exploded. She started spending a good portion of her days drawing. While my husband and I repeated the mantra we only draw on paper over and over again, sometimes her art just refused to be contained. She drew on walls. She drew on herself. She painted on the floor. She covered the world in lines, shapes and colours.
Hannah hasn’t stopped drawing since. She remains a prolific artist, and while I am undoubtedly biased as her mother, all that practice has made her pretty good. Many of her drawings are better than mine, even though I have nearly three full decades on her. I love that Hannah has this outlet that allows her to express herself, explore her world, and play. I love that my daughter is an artist. I’m also glad that she’s gotten much better at keeping the art on paper and off the walls.
Now my son Jacob is coming up on his fourth birthday, and recently he went through a creative explosion of his own. He’s started drawing and colouring and creating recognizable forms, like this “friendly ghost”:
Jacob is spending more and more time with a marker in his hand. And just like his sister before him, his art refuses to be contained. We remind him repeatedly that he should draw on paper and nowhere else. If you ask him where he should draw, he dutifully replies, “Only on paper.” He has the rote theory down, and yet we still often come across scenes like this:
When I catch my son red-handed, drawing on the back of my kitchen island, I point out to him that we only draw on paper. He says, “Yes, we draw on paper.” When I try to take the marker out of his hand, though, he says, “No! Wait! I’m not finished yet!” Then he proudly shows me his creation. He can talk the talk, but he’s not walking the walk.
I love seeing Jacob’s budding artistic skills. I love that he’s expressing himself creatively. I understand that this penchant towards graffiti is natural. I understand that Jacob will eventually learn where it’s okay to draw, and where it’s not okay to draw. I only give my children washable markers, so Jacob’s work is relatively easy to clean. And yet, it’s hard not to feel a little bit, erm, put out, when I come across yet another masterpiece on my wall, my curtains or my coffee table.
Can you relate? Do your little Picassos draw on every surface in your home? If you’ve recently gone through this stage, how long did it last? I could use some commiseration from other parents who have drawings all over their walls.
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i love the art explosion – it’s still happening at nine years old
don’t know how we did it but the art has stayed on the paper in this house with a few very minor infractions. i drew a lot with the Wee Guy (still do) so maybe the “mummy draws on paper/canvas/drawing boards” thing stuck with him? who knows? he certainly doesn’t model much else i show him!
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The ‘expressive art’ phase, as we fondly call it now, was from about 3 to 4 in our house. Of course, at the time, it was the ‘For crying out loud, who let him near the markers again!!!!’ phase. After that, he learned to keep it on the paper but we also gave him free range access to playdo and all kinds of crafty stuff like pom poms, felt etc. which distracted him from drawing all over the house. Summer was fantastic because I would stick the kids outside with washable paints and paper, then hose them down afterwards! I feel your pain. I’ve only just painted over some of the ‘artwork’ on the basement walls.
Twitter: Miss_Scarlett99
says:
perhaps mounting something on the island? Since he wants to draw there anyway
Twitter: AmberStrocel
says:
That’s actually a pretty good suggestion – I was going to get a bunch of paper from IKEA tomorrow, I’m sure I can set something up!
Twitter: bluebirdmama
says:
great idea!
We get big roles of paper from IKEA and cover walls with them, those walls are drawing/sticker walls. I was told this would confuse her and make her write on the walls, but so far (and she is only 2 so what do I know?) it’s been ok. She knows which walls are there for her, and goes to them often.
I think part of it is just the fun of drawing on the damn wall. I double up the paper and if it’s washable marker and it goes off, at least it’s just a little
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Ikea really rocks for that stuff. My son has recently gone into this and I love it. He just draws for hours but he is 5. I love to see him drawiing but so far he does people in sticks and then starts trying to do some writing as well. Any good book sugguests or tips/websites on how to encourage creativity in kids? I dont have much talent myself
Twitter: AmberStrocel
says:
I don’t have much talent either. I wish I had suggestions, but my kids have both sort of jumped into this on their own. I think making materials available is good. Maybe hanging out with other kids who enjoy making art would also help?
Twitter: bluebirdmama
says:
oh yes, We have been through this so many times. over and over. You’re spot on with talk the talk but not able to walk the walk part – that’s really what’s happening. I think even with my 6.5 year old. I hate to give an unsolicited commercial but have a look around for Kleen Glo – it’s a natural cleaner that has taken even sharpie and ballpoint pen off the walls of our rental.
Alison @ Bluebirdmama’s last post … Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off?
Twitter: AmberStrocel
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I will totally look for it – I can use any tips you have to give!
Twitter: Hobo_Mama
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I love that he protests that he’s not finished yet! Ha ha.
Well, how’s this for commiseration? We use Sharpies in our business, and we try to put them away high up, but … yeah. So we have Sharpies all over our walls. As well as, oddly enough, Toy Story stickers. Which was the perfect finishing touch.
Lauren @ Hobo Mama’s last post … Attachment parenting is about respect
Twitter: BirthingKristen
says:
My oldest never really had an interest (so it seems) in drawing on the walls. But my recently-turned-four-year-old? Oh yeah. I still find “artwork surprises” from who knows when.
We try to keep lots of different paper on hand, and we even painted a giant chalkboard on the wall down in our basement, but every once in a while, he seems to think that the wall REALLY needs a streak of green crayon on it–ha!
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