Bonding with Your Child Through Art
My oldest daughter Natasha has always loved art. Even as a tiny toddler she liked to draw. However, I’m not artistically inclined and I’ve enjoyed exploring the world of creativity with her – almost like a child again myself. Now it’s her passion and arts and crafts activities have become an important part of our family life. Whether it’s the girls entertaining themselves for hours with a notebook and crayons or a family art project, I really have Natasha to thank for bringing art back into my life. I completely agree with Andrea that one of the greatest things about having children is becoming a child again and seeing the world through their eyes and realizing that there is really no right answer… just the fun of exploring your senses!
-Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO & co-founder, Citibabes
Art is an amazing way to bond with children while also encouraging adults to explore their own inner child. There are different ways to do this and may depend on the temperament and age of your child. My daughter loves to be messy and can cover herself in paint and be happy for hours. My neighbor’s son, who is 3 days younger, hates mess and can’t tolerate paint for very long. Through materials, you will naturally discover what style of art your child gravitates toward.
Sometimes children love for moms and dads to draw with them on the same paper and sometimes they need their own space. This is their way of gaining and exploring boundaries and power so it is important to encourage and observe. The thing about art is that as a parent, it is easy to get lost in your own ideas of what should happen. In this bonding experience, I strongly encourage feeling for what your child needs. Allow them to lead you. I have often seen that if the parent begins to draw or build on their own, the child will ask to be invited in. Allow yourself to visit your child’s world and find freedom in that. They can teach us how to let go of our daily conventions, to live in the moment, and about the simple act of exploration. So the next time you ask your child, “Why did you put the entire container of Q-tips in the toilet?” You may already know the answer, “To see what would happen.” Live in the moment and enjoy the process.
Somewhere along the path of childhood to adulthood, some of us lost the ability to play. One of the amazing things about having a child is that it allows us to learn how to play again. We do not need be artists, musicians, or actors in order to explore these modalities. In tapping into our own lost childhood delight, we grow closer to our children.
By Andrea Mitchell MPS, LCAT, Art Psychotherapist and Mind-Body Fitness Instructor www.themitchellmethod.com
On Wednesday, June 9th at 8:45am, Andrea Mitchell, creator of The Mitchell Method, will partner with Citibabes to bring a complimentary wellness class to NYC moms at Lulelemon SoHo. In a continued effort to support community wellness programs, Lululemon Athletica SOHO will host the event, which is free & open to the public at their store at 481 Broadway, just south of Broome. Andrea’s method is based in Pilates and will focus on strengthening a mom’s target areas, but will also be challenging for non-moms, too! For little yogis, Citibabes will conduct one of their signature creative movement classes for children side-by-side in the space. For more information, please visit www.lululemon.com/newyork/soho/events.
