Is creative, artistic expression something that you can teach children? Or is it an ability that a person is born with? There are many wonderful children's art resources that can assist us, but can we teach children to think and express themselves in a creative, artistic manner?

All of us are born with talents and abilities.  Each of us has our strengths.  But I believe that all children can be taught how to think artistically, and express themselves artistically.  They may not become skilled artists, but at least they will understand how artists, and creative people think.

The most important thing to teach children before you can encourage them to express themselves artistically is to think like an artist.  The main thing that is different between an artist and the average person is how they see the world.  Artists are trained to really open their eyes, and see what is all around them.

This is actually much more difficult for adults to do than children.  Adults have learned to "tune things out" unless they are focusing on them.  If you stop right now at this very moment and look around where you are sitting and reading this article, really stop and look, you will realize that you are automatically tuning things out.  This is a learned trait, and children do not know how to do this.  This is why if you are with young children, they will stop and see things that you have missed in your mission to get to where you are going.

Do an simple exercise while you are sitting at your desk:

1. Close your eyes for 30 seconds.
2. Open your eyes and really look around the room for one minute.
   
3. Then quickly write down everything you saw.
4. You will be surprised at how much you take in without registering it.
   

This exercise will teach children (and adults) how to think like artists. You can repeat it with new situations and objects as often as necessary.

1. Take your child or group of children for a walk outside.
   
2. Have each child collect one item of interest. It can be a leaf, a rock, a stick, anything that they find.
3. Bring them back to a table and give each of them a clean piece of paper and pencil.
4. Have the children draw the item that they have found.
5. After they have finished, have them describe the drawing to you. They will see more in the drawing then you will.
6. Once they have described the drawing, compare the drawing to the item, and look for things that they have not represented in the drawing. For example, if it is a leaf, look for the veins, bumps, and other individual aspects of the leaf that make it unique.
7. Ask them to add the changes to the drawing.

This exercise will teach them to see and to describe what they are seeing.

Once you have taught your child how to see things, then you can encourage them to express themselves.

One way to encourage artistic expression is with journaling.  A journal can be a cross between a diary, and a sketchbook.  Or you can create a journal with a certain them.  The best way to encourage a child to keep a journal is to set aside a specific time for them to record their thoughts in the journal. 

A journal should be a special place to write down thoughts, so it is best if you buy a separate book for your child to keep as their journal.  It doesn't have to be expensive.  It can be a notebook or blank book.

Set aside 15 to 20 minutes a day for your child to write or draw in their journal.  You can have them write about something new they learned that day or even focus the journal on art.  Have your child write or draw or even paint a new technique they have learned that day.

What is really great about journaling is that you and your child can see the progression in their skills and abilities.

If you want to teach your child specific art skills, there are many terrific art books available to start with.  However, working with a teacher who is an expert in that particular type of art is best once your child reaches a certain skill level.

If you are just looking for more elementary art projects for young children, the books that I have listed at the beginning of the hub are really excellent.  They will give you numerous projects and ideas to start off with.

You can have your child imitate the style of some of the art masters, and then talk about the artists who developed that style.

Allow your child to try out different art forms.  There are many that you can try that are inexpensive.  Some of the newer art materials have dual purposes.  I really like the watercolor pencils by Faber-Castell listed on this hub.  They can be used as colored pencils and and as watercolor paints.  They are very easy to use.

Another great material is polymer clay.  Polymer clay can be reused over and over until you are finished with your project.  Then you bake it in your oven at a low temperature and you have a finished project.  The Sculpey clay listed on this article can also be used as erasers once they have been baked.

Part of creative expression is sharing yourself with others.  This is not the same as sharing your toys or other belongings.  When you encourage artistic expression, you are encouraging your child to share their passions, their beliefs, and their feelings.

Art is all about emotion.  Some people emote all over the place. But even the shyest person can be taught to share their feelings through writing, art, and music.  The catch to this is that you as a parent and teacher need to take the time to stop and listen to your children when they do express themselves, and teach them how to express themselves constructively.

Let them tell you what their pictures mean, and what they are showing in the picture. You may find yourself amazed at how much children do actually see and hear.

When we encourage creative expression in any form, we are encouraging our children to color outside the lines, and to stand up for what they believe in. 

Expressing themselves artistically makes them stronger people who know themselves well.  If this is the kind of person you want your child to be, then use the methods that I have mentioned in this article to enourage their self expression.