Thursday, June 20, 2013

Encouraging Creativity


I picked up my husband from the airport and while waiting in the baggage claim, the display window caught my eye. Inside hung beautifully illustrated birds drawn by elementary children. Then I noticed a book had been published, Bonkers for Birds (a book by kids for kids). How clever. It made me so happy to know some brilliant person encouraged creativity in these youth. I hope the kids realize this treasure… could make a night and day difference in how they view themselves in the future. Each bird colored and drawn with crayon was a different species and I loved each one.

 Displayed at Lambert St. Louis International Airport in St. Louis, MO

Were you encouraged to be creative as a young child?

8 comments:

  1. How Nice! In childhood my creativity was both encourages and hindered...depending on year and teacher...should be enough room for all of us, don't you think?

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  2. Lynn--

    As a young kid (under 12), no. But I had a 7th grade teacher who DID encourage my writing. In fact that teacher, and the teacher who sponsored the school newspaper, both helped me limp along as an angst-filled poet (in those days).

    Who encouraged YOU, Lynn? Inquiring minds want to know.

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  3. It looks like a lovely project. The arts are so undervalued (IMHO) in these days of tight budgets.

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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  4. Hi Lynn! What a treasure and a wonderful idea.

    Yep, I was encouraged to be creative. My Grandma J. was super creative and so was my Aunt, and they taught me to sew and make other things too.

    I hope that you have a wonderful weekend. I'm going to try and do a post or two ... my main computer is having connection issues though.

    Kathy M.

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  5. How wonderful that these children were encouraged and produced a book.

    Growing up we were encouraged to use our imaginations, mostly by our mom to keep us busy. We put on backyard plays with sheets hanging over clothes lines as our curtain. In school it was mostly the four R's; reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion. But in eighth grade, Sister Mary Johanna read something I wrote and encouraged me to continue writing, and the nuns in high school also encouraged my writing.

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  6. I was encouraged to read, by being allowed to buy Scholastic books every order, even though money was not abundant. I don't recall anybody encouraging me to write until later, when far-flung friends clamored for my correspondence.

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  7. What an awesome idea! Unfortunately, art and creativity is not given the attention it deserves in our schools. Money is poured like crazy into sports while funding for the arts is cut. It makes me sad. Your post shows that obviously, though, there are people out there encouraging kids to explore their creative sides. Awesome!

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  8. Love the book idea, not to mention that it was displayed at the airport! When I was in third grade, a teacher who scared me just a little sat me down and told me that when I grew up, I should write and illustrate children's books. How I loved her for that. Now that I'm grown, I love her even more for it. In fact, if I ever publish one, I plan to dedicate it to her.

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