I loved reading about play for older kids. They too absolutely need that creative space and encouragement to move into that kind of free-flow art making. I look forward to hearing more about what works for the older age group.
Yes! It feels so good for everyone... can't wait to share more! Just curious... are you interested in ideas for what works at home or school or somewhere in between? Just planning our next article :) Thanks for your affirmation that this is an important topic!
While we’re on the subject of “older”, I’d also be curious about options for self directed playful art making for older adults. Since this is good for all of us across the life span.
Yay! Another avenue for you to explore and write about perhaps. I look forward to reading more on this subject too. Creative self-care for adults...yes please!
Thank you for this post. Like the other readers I really, really welcome ideas for older children. My son is 8, in a very mainstream / academic focused school in London, Uk. I have seen his personality and interests change so much in response to the school environment + homework + the activities that he chooses. I feel like I'm living in a parallel universe where I read work like yours, so many brilliant books, long for the system to change etc etc but then with my old child I seem to just wring my hands and question how to re-foster this creative play and how to make time for it. I get so cross with myself.
I spoke to his head teacher about some of your brilliant ideas and her view was that those things "used to work, but screens mean that children have lost the ability to have non directed creativity." Such a depressing viewpoint and so wrong I feel. At the same time my friends and i all notice that when kids come over to play they are at a loss on what to do and how to play independently. They'll do something for a minute and then come back and ask for screen time. Or will require the adult to really coach them. through a game. It's so different to my experience of childhood.
I have so much to say about all of this, but to end before I go on too long, please write more about this age group and older!!
Oh Cheryl, I hear you. I am a parent of a 7 and 10 year old and Bar is a parent to 3 kids ages 18+. So we know as parents and educators that the world does not see play and creativity as essential, more like luxuries. At home, a lot of the advice we just wrote about for toddlers feels applicable.. bring it closer, fold in their interests, etc. Any time my kids have an idea, some inspiration to create, I try my hardest to support it. I'm going to perfectly honest- my kids right now are in full blown summer mode after the longest trip they've ever taken, so I'm OK with a mix of screen time, playing in the backyard, and endless snacks. Very little making happening right this minute but I know there will be another season soon (or as soon as we get our next cardboard haul) where they will want to make something, paint something, build something.. Sometimes I have to be really sneaky and just set something up for myself (Bar's collage club works for this) and then they are curious and might join in. Other times, I'll take them to our local mom + pop art supply store or our creative reuse because there's nothing like a fresh marker or sketchbook.
Re what your child's teacher said- send her to us because I understand what she is saying! At first it DOES seem like they have no creative energy, no will to play, no stamina, no ability to dive in.. Truth is, they're becoming little grown ups. The good news is, like any habit, the more you do it -- the easier it becomes. So for teachers, offering 10 minutes a day as a soft start could be hard at first but do absolute wonders. Anyway, could talk about this forever. Thank you so much for your comment and look forward to chatting some more.
I am babysit my niece a lot and am always buying her little craft sets. Funnily enough, it’s always the more open ended activities I leave out for her that get her into a creative flow: laying out all her markers, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, and paper; legos; even giving her seed packets for her to plant outside!
I truly appreciate your posts; they resonate deeply with me and reaffirm my beliefs as a social reconstructivist reading teacher by training and an art teacher at heart. Now that I’m a retired public school teacher and a teaching art studio owner, I often find myself reflecting on the realities of the school environment—especially in the urban district I worked in, where every student came from a low-income background. It can be incredibly challenging to stay true to my principles in such circumstances.
In my studio, I sometimes feel the weight of parental expectations. Parents often want to see tangible results for the fees they pay, and this pressure can be disheartening. It can leave you feeling sad and exhausted. I have a vision that I just can't seem to manifest!
I''m curious if you know about Nona Orbach and her book, *The Good Enough Studio.* Her work inspires me as well. I truly value the gentle reminder you both offer: that we should never give up or concede, but instead, continue to advocate for every individual's right to creativity. It’s so important for our world, and I find comfort in knowing there are others who feel the same way.
Hey Sasha- thank you so much for commenting! It sounds like we have lots of overlap. You're exactly right, the unfortunate and deeply unjust truth is that many public schools serving low-income families create a culture and climate that prevents children from accessing their creativity and finding joy... and a curriculum that narrowly focuses on skills only and not on making sense of the world. My work in Pittsburgh focuses on making play a priority in the public school classroom and just like you there are many, many educators who crave this and know it is right for kids. But its complicated, because it often feels counter to the rest of the school culture that is so focused on compliance.
And I hear what you are saying re the studio, because we've been there too. Maybe you can experiment with sessions that are more open-studio, stations with various materials and an invitation to make anything. Really spell out your purpose and what parents will see when their children are offered an opportunity to truly create. Doesn't have to be all the time.. but when they see it, they usually get it.
Thank you again for commenting and hope we can chat some more soon!
I am a Gen Xer, former educator and a product of a Catholic School upbringing. Play was “babysitting” when we were told to go outside and play when my mother of 5 needed a break from all of us. Play was not “freedom” but heavily monitored as a child in Catholic School. In high school, the focus was on “being a good Catholic” leader. Now as an adult in my 50s ,I so want to play. I appreciate your article on play and when there is freedom there is natural regulation for our children. I REAlly love how you touched on how play is important for older children as well. I would advocate for this when I was a high school teacher and “sneak it in” and create recess. they were more readily able to come back and focus. It’s natural, it’s normal. It helps to process, it helps with flow state instead of “linear state”. Our system do not want critical thinking, they want conformity thinking. This is why unstructured play has been less of a priority and funding for public schools in the states are rewarded for more rigid and high grades schools. Those that “win” are the children who are homeschooled or in private schools that are aware of the value of play. Would you be able to do a piece on the effects of lack of creativity for private schools? Also, would love to hear more about play for older students as well as adults! Off to get my glue gun….Thank you!
Play is a child's creative calling.
I loved reading about play for older kids. They too absolutely need that creative space and encouragement to move into that kind of free-flow art making. I look forward to hearing more about what works for the older age group.
Yes! It feels so good for everyone... can't wait to share more! Just curious... are you interested in ideas for what works at home or school or somewhere in between? Just planning our next article :) Thanks for your affirmation that this is an important topic!
Definitely ideas for home.
While we’re on the subject of “older”, I’d also be curious about options for self directed playful art making for older adults. Since this is good for all of us across the life span.
Love that! We are both huge advocates of this kind of creative play for grown ups... it is some of the best self care!
Yay! Another avenue for you to explore and write about perhaps. I look forward to reading more on this subject too. Creative self-care for adults...yes please!
Thank you for this post. Like the other readers I really, really welcome ideas for older children. My son is 8, in a very mainstream / academic focused school in London, Uk. I have seen his personality and interests change so much in response to the school environment + homework + the activities that he chooses. I feel like I'm living in a parallel universe where I read work like yours, so many brilliant books, long for the system to change etc etc but then with my old child I seem to just wring my hands and question how to re-foster this creative play and how to make time for it. I get so cross with myself.
I spoke to his head teacher about some of your brilliant ideas and her view was that those things "used to work, but screens mean that children have lost the ability to have non directed creativity." Such a depressing viewpoint and so wrong I feel. At the same time my friends and i all notice that when kids come over to play they are at a loss on what to do and how to play independently. They'll do something for a minute and then come back and ask for screen time. Or will require the adult to really coach them. through a game. It's so different to my experience of childhood.
I have so much to say about all of this, but to end before I go on too long, please write more about this age group and older!!
Thank you for all that you do.
Oh Cheryl, I hear you. I am a parent of a 7 and 10 year old and Bar is a parent to 3 kids ages 18+. So we know as parents and educators that the world does not see play and creativity as essential, more like luxuries. At home, a lot of the advice we just wrote about for toddlers feels applicable.. bring it closer, fold in their interests, etc. Any time my kids have an idea, some inspiration to create, I try my hardest to support it. I'm going to perfectly honest- my kids right now are in full blown summer mode after the longest trip they've ever taken, so I'm OK with a mix of screen time, playing in the backyard, and endless snacks. Very little making happening right this minute but I know there will be another season soon (or as soon as we get our next cardboard haul) where they will want to make something, paint something, build something.. Sometimes I have to be really sneaky and just set something up for myself (Bar's collage club works for this) and then they are curious and might join in. Other times, I'll take them to our local mom + pop art supply store or our creative reuse because there's nothing like a fresh marker or sketchbook.
Re what your child's teacher said- send her to us because I understand what she is saying! At first it DOES seem like they have no creative energy, no will to play, no stamina, no ability to dive in.. Truth is, they're becoming little grown ups. The good news is, like any habit, the more you do it -- the easier it becomes. So for teachers, offering 10 minutes a day as a soft start could be hard at first but do absolute wonders. Anyway, could talk about this forever. Thank you so much for your comment and look forward to chatting some more.
I am babysit my niece a lot and am always buying her little craft sets. Funnily enough, it’s always the more open ended activities I leave out for her that get her into a creative flow: laying out all her markers, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, and paper; legos; even giving her seed packets for her to plant outside!
Right! There are so many ways to create and play..it can be really freeing and affirming to just be offered some tools and materials!
I truly appreciate your posts; they resonate deeply with me and reaffirm my beliefs as a social reconstructivist reading teacher by training and an art teacher at heart. Now that I’m a retired public school teacher and a teaching art studio owner, I often find myself reflecting on the realities of the school environment—especially in the urban district I worked in, where every student came from a low-income background. It can be incredibly challenging to stay true to my principles in such circumstances.
In my studio, I sometimes feel the weight of parental expectations. Parents often want to see tangible results for the fees they pay, and this pressure can be disheartening. It can leave you feeling sad and exhausted. I have a vision that I just can't seem to manifest!
I''m curious if you know about Nona Orbach and her book, *The Good Enough Studio.* Her work inspires me as well. I truly value the gentle reminder you both offer: that we should never give up or concede, but instead, continue to advocate for every individual's right to creativity. It’s so important for our world, and I find comfort in knowing there are others who feel the same way.
Warmly,
Sasha
www.artworksmichigan.com
Hey Sasha- thank you so much for commenting! It sounds like we have lots of overlap. You're exactly right, the unfortunate and deeply unjust truth is that many public schools serving low-income families create a culture and climate that prevents children from accessing their creativity and finding joy... and a curriculum that narrowly focuses on skills only and not on making sense of the world. My work in Pittsburgh focuses on making play a priority in the public school classroom and just like you there are many, many educators who crave this and know it is right for kids. But its complicated, because it often feels counter to the rest of the school culture that is so focused on compliance.
And I hear what you are saying re the studio, because we've been there too. Maybe you can experiment with sessions that are more open-studio, stations with various materials and an invitation to make anything. Really spell out your purpose and what parents will see when their children are offered an opportunity to truly create. Doesn't have to be all the time.. but when they see it, they usually get it.
Thank you again for commenting and hope we can chat some more soon!
I am a Gen Xer, former educator and a product of a Catholic School upbringing. Play was “babysitting” when we were told to go outside and play when my mother of 5 needed a break from all of us. Play was not “freedom” but heavily monitored as a child in Catholic School. In high school, the focus was on “being a good Catholic” leader. Now as an adult in my 50s ,I so want to play. I appreciate your article on play and when there is freedom there is natural regulation for our children. I REAlly love how you touched on how play is important for older children as well. I would advocate for this when I was a high school teacher and “sneak it in” and create recess. they were more readily able to come back and focus. It’s natural, it’s normal. It helps to process, it helps with flow state instead of “linear state”. Our system do not want critical thinking, they want conformity thinking. This is why unstructured play has been less of a priority and funding for public schools in the states are rewarded for more rigid and high grades schools. Those that “win” are the children who are homeschooled or in private schools that are aware of the value of play. Would you be able to do a piece on the effects of lack of creativity for private schools? Also, would love to hear more about play for older students as well as adults! Off to get my glue gun….Thank you!