The Art Wall

 

When my children were little, I was very concerned with their rooms being styled to my liking, but the older they've gotten, the more I've realized that I need to let them take ownership to let their personalities shine. 

Today was a special day as I let my 5-year-old tape up an entire wall with all of his art pieces (mostly coloring pages). He wanted his wall to look like an art gallery, and I have to admit, it turned out pretty neat. I love seeing his personality shine through with pictures of space, dinosaurs, construction vehicles, race-cars, and knights battling fire-breathing dragons. At some point, I would love to make his art wall a little more organized with framed pieces of his best art, but for now, this taped-up gallery that he created is perfect.

Allowing our children the space to be creative doesn't always have to be messy (although oftentimes it is). Sometimes it just takes making the time to let their little hearts try new things. 

Also, a brief story for you: Oliver's first trip to the art museum, where he first saw a gallery display, was one of my very favorite memories of him to date. When we entered the Christian art section, we came upon a beautiful cross in the entryway. Oliver, taken aback by its beauty, immediately kneeled, which of course caused his little sister to follow suit. As we walked through the exhibit, Oliver took in for the first time the reality that Jesus died on the cross and that the nails had truly pierced his hands and feet. It was emotional for me to see the expression on his face as this reality sank in. As nervous as I was to take my little ones to a fancy art museum, I can't express how glad I am that I did. Not only did Oliver come back with the idea to make his own art exhibit, but it also offered a tangible way for him to learn more about the Greatest Love Story of All Time. 

Looking for other great ways to cultivate your child's creativity?

📖 Check out our Creative Catholic Library
✏️ Learn more about Creative Café
☕️ Explore our Creative Café workshops