The Creativity Handbook: A Visual Arts Guide for Parents and Teachers

The purpose of this handbook is to demystify art for parents and teachers and to help them understand what the art experience is like for the child/adolescent. The book discusses visual art concepts in simple terms and presents art as a vehicle for educationally transformative experiences. The book also provides sample dialogues between adults and children for parents and teachers who wish to help children approach art projects creatively. The 'I can't draw syndrome' is explained and stages of artistic development are discussed from scribbling to adolescent art. The text also offers ideas and projects to help adults support the authentic vision of the child/ adolescent throughout all the stages. Major sections include: the art experience, creativity and the child, stages of artistic development, keeping creativity alive, art projects for children ages 2 to 12, and art projects for adolescents ages 12 to 17. Also provided are an appendix on art materials and safety information and a glossary. At the core of this book is the belief that children are born artists and that artistic talent emerges from the interplay of proclivity, cultural enrichment, and nurturance. This exceptional handbook will raise consciousness and foster understanding about the nature of the art experience, and it will help adults find ways to keep the creative process alive at home and in the classroom. Read more