Talking About Kids tips for April 2nd's program, Art, Music, Dance Education/Emotional Development

Encourage your children to tell their stories through the arts -- made up songs, picture stories, movement plays.

Creativity develops when children have free time to daydream, imagine and play.

Establish a "creative corner" in the house where age- appropriate arts, music, and dance movement materials (costumes, etc.) are available.

Be a willing, enthusiastic, and participatory audience for your child's artistic expressions.

Expose your child to various kinds and styles of music, art, art media, dance, and movement experiences.

Appreciate your child's creative responses as mirroring children's developmental levels which are not comparable to adult expressions. A young child's scribbles or nonsensical songs or playful movements do not have to represent a finished product comparable to those of an older child or an adult.

Respond to your child's arts expressions as a statement of "This is who I am." Avoid questions that might hurt a child's self-esteem such as, "What's that?" "Why did you do that?" You can ask questions as: Did you enjoy this? Would you like to talk about it?

All of the above experiences will help your child become a "human being," not a "human doing." Avoid overscheduling.

Contact:
Ronald Hays, MS
Director, Creative Arts in Therapy Masters Degree Education Program
Allegheny University of the Health Sciences
e-mail: haysr@auhs.edu