THE JOY OF CRAYONS
Yesterday my 14 month old granddaughter learned to color with crayons, it wasn't something we anticipated, it was a little bit amazing. My daughter invited us to breakfast with Santa along with the nanny and her husband and another another couple with a tiny baby.
Our table was parallel to a table that had been set up for creative activity, there were crayons and glitter and glue and little buttons and Christmas cards , the children were supposed to design the blank interior. Our beautiful little girl was watching the other children gathering at the table busy, busy, busy, so she got off her mothers lap, walked over and observed with wide eyed innocence.
I sensed she wanted to participate but did not know where to begin. I gave her little blank card crayon for each hand and then tried to guide her hand a little bit to show her the effect of having a crayon can leave color on the paper. Her grip of the crayons was a little tenuous but she immediately grasped the cause and effect. She needed no further guidance. Her creative process kicked in and she went at the paper with gusto, poking, scribbling, knocking the card on the floor, retrieving it and doing it again and again. Oh boy, this was something she loved to do and now she was one of the big kids.
How wonderful to observe somebody's first coloring experience when I got back to the table the nanny said “Yes, they have been finger painting this week and she really loved that process." but this was something entirely different and the nannies real amazement came that not once did she put the crayons in her mouth to taste the colors (that will come later).
What insight the planners of this event had to put out this table . They know the children have had enough of Santa Claus at some point and
now need to put that experience down on paper and create their own Christmas story.
I watched with envy there was no holding back, everyone had their own personal ideas on what to put on those cards. Amazing, they didn't need adult guidance they din't need anybody to tell them what is supposed to be on the card, they know instinctively, they are creators.
I am so grateful I got to observe this creative holiday frenzy.
Our table was parallel to a table that had been set up for creative activity, there were crayons and glitter and glue and little buttons and Christmas cards , the children were supposed to design the blank interior. Our beautiful little girl was watching the other children gathering at the table busy, busy, busy, so she got off her mothers lap, walked over and observed with wide eyed innocence.
I sensed she wanted to participate but did not know where to begin. I gave her little blank card crayon for each hand and then tried to guide her hand a little bit to show her the effect of having a crayon can leave color on the paper. Her grip of the crayons was a little tenuous but she immediately grasped the cause and effect. She needed no further guidance. Her creative process kicked in and she went at the paper with gusto, poking, scribbling, knocking the card on the floor, retrieving it and doing it again and again. Oh boy, this was something she loved to do and now she was one of the big kids.
How wonderful to observe somebody's first coloring experience when I got back to the table the nanny said “Yes, they have been finger painting this week and she really loved that process." but this was something entirely different and the nannies real amazement came that not once did she put the crayons in her mouth to taste the colors (that will come later).
What insight the planners of this event had to put out this table . They know the children have had enough of Santa Claus at some point and
I watched with envy there was no holding back, everyone had their own personal ideas on what to put on those cards. Amazing, they didn't need adult guidance they din't need anybody to tell them what is supposed to be on the card, they know instinctively, they are creators.
I am so grateful I got to observe this creative holiday frenzy.
Comments
Post a Comment