One of the things I long to see developed in the heart of my children is a desire to create. I really want them to enjoy the process of creating, designing, drawing, imagining, and using the mind that God gave them. It amazes me what they come up with when given the space and opportunity.
As I have been looking at the Charlotte Mason approach to education, I was really not gung-ho on the picture study idea. I thought it sounded good in theory, but honestly, I just wasn’t sure that it was something that my kids would gravitate toward, although I wanted them to. As we have begun doing the picture studies, I have been very impressed with the results.
We do it as is recommended, following these simple steps:
- Look at a picture.
- Talk about it.
- Learn about the artist who drew it.
Afterward, I provide them with blank paper, crayons, and drawing pencils, and they are allowed to draw while listening to our afternoon read-aloud. Rather than draw, however, my 5-year-old son usually chooses to play quietly while I read. I don’t mind him doing this, but I would love for him to pick up a drawing pencil and feel confident about it. He normally shies away drawing because he tends to get frustrated when he can’t make his pictures “perfect.”
The other day we were looking at a library book about the Oregon Trail. Something happened, because I looked down and he was drawing it! I’m not sure what seed took root in him, but for the next two days solid, he drew the Oregon Trail and everything else he could think of—cars, trucks, trees, everything!
See all the Come Look with Me Books HERE. I love the simplicity of this series, my kids really enjoyed them too?
Before we actually tried the picture study, I had this questioning attitude of like, Why are picture studies so important? It was, honestly, the same attitude I had about poetry. While the classical model sounded good to me, I hesitated thinking, But is it really going to help them? What I’m seeing firsthand is that this is opening up my kids’ minds to new things they may have never thought of before.
When I tell my son about different artists who all have different views and different methods and different ways of doing things, that gives him permission to do his own thing with art. He understands that it doesn’t have to look “perfect” or look like anyone else’s. I am learning that it’s really important that I expose my kids to lots of different things in order to see where their interests lie. What lights a spark in me might not light one in them. I need to introduce them to all kinds of different things so they can see what area God gave them their giftings. This was another eye-opening experience for me–seeing a desire bud in him to be creative through art.
What has been eye-opening in your parenting experience or homeschool journey? When have you tried new things and seen it pay off? When have you watched something new bloom, develop, and grow in your children?
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