Life is a blank canvas and the child is the artist. Introduce this canvas to the child,
Let the colors flow, let the patterns emerge, let change be expressed. Now sit back and watch the masterpiece unfold!
Where does Art begin?Â
It is actually introduced in the mothers womb itself. From the time an infant listens to stories or shlokahs that a mother reads, a sanskara is introduced, the art of listening!
Further in the journey of  life many more magical realms unfold - The art of smiling at the mother out of pure love, the art of crying when you do not get your way, the art of walking with wobbly legs, the art of picking up little things and observing, the art of cajoling ....... and the learning continues... The learning develops into skills, some of them are more defined than the others.  *LSRW skills are their first stepping stones to the art forms :
Listening is an art Â
Speaking is an art
Reading is an art
Writing is an art Â
These are not taught to the child, they are developed as art forms. These skills are developed according to the child's taste and understanding. Nothing can be and should be thrust onto the child. As a child  learns to develop the skills ,he/ she recognizes which medium they express themselves best in. Curiosity in your  Child  A curious child is one who will always keep learning as he/she is always trying to understand HOW and WHY. A child observes the surroundings with great interest. Picking up pebbles and leaves, staring at it, studying them for hours is a favorite pastime. This art of observation and curiosity should be nurtured. Do not let adult impressions impose upon the observations. We need to take utmost care to ensure that the unlearning of curiosity does not happen in the conventional rote learning system of education. Developing Art in your child Certain norms & discipline on the part of parents can help develop, nurture the art in a child . 1.Learn by doing  -
An ancient Chinese philosopher said -
I hear and I forget, I see and I remember , I do and I understand. Let experience be a good teacher and let your child learn through experiencing taste,smell,touch,and observation. Give your child a varied exposure and see what they like doing best.
2.Preserving the beautiful, maintain the observation. You can help the child preserve all the experiences. Photographs of your child's first painting .The first card gifted to you. This helps the child value his/her work and sets a discipline of good documentation skills. ‬‬3.Showcase appreciation
Appreciation should be adequate and appropriate as very important lessons are learnt early. The art of understanding an affirmative and negative comment should be imbibed early in life.  4.â€â€No comparisons !
Each child is born unique. There is a natural tendency in humans to compare but we do more harm than good due to this habit. Appreciate the child for his/her own unique interpretation and celebrate the fact that they are different. This will boost confidence and the belief that their view is respected.
Nurturing an artist is an art in itself. Art is everywhere. We only need to lay open the vast opportunities and give free reign to the imagination of a child. The imagination that is the most wondrous tool a child possesses. The need of the hour is to just sit back and see the magic unfold as the larger picture emerges.