Whether you agree with me or not, I am a homeschooling parent. In deciding to go down this path with my children, I am deeply researching what is best for my children. I never realized how many options there are. Whether religious or secular, there are literally tons of things for kids. From reading and English to math and science, there is plenty to choose from. And this was the easy part, these issues were simple for me to make a decision on what was best.
The difficulty came with teaching the Music and Art class. I have absolutely no skills at all in these areas. OK, I’m lucky because I can cheat with music. We have a family member who gives piano lessons (problem solved) and another friend who plays the guitar… this is getting easier and easier. Throw in a little music study and this won’t be that hard after all.
The difficult part came when I had to teach Art and Drawing classes for Children. I found many options both online and offline, but there was never anything that I felt comfortable with. Some of this stuff was downright complicated. I had to learn to draw before I could teach my children. And if an adult couldn’t do this quickly, how hard would it be for my children?
Most of the classes and courses I saw promoted the idea of how to learn to draw online, or were so complicated that I lost interest in even trying to teach it to my kids.
I guess my first question should be, “how can you learn to draw online?” I thought drawing required pencil and paper. (Or at least something to that effect). If you learn to draw online, isn’t it more like graphic design? Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t think so.
My second question was, “Is there a course where a child can learn to draw without spending a fortune?” Most of the offline courses are a bit expensive and many are complicated and tedious. (Definitely too complicated for my 10 and 12 year olds.) But I promise you, if you keep digging, there are courses that are free, some that cost a little, and some that cost a lot. But the point is that the drawing must be on paper with pen and ink, or even watercolors.
I know that computers are here to stay, and computer graphic art has its place (I find computer drawing to be another medium to work with). But what is even more important than working on a computer and using the function tools correctly, is that we provide our children with the necessary background so that they can create anything with their imagination. If we want our kids to learn how to sketch and draw, I really think our kids should learn how to draw on paper first…and even throw some sidewalk chalk too.
I may be a little crazy, but if you’re old-fashioned like me, you can be considered a dinosaur or a relic of times gone by, but I really think kids get more out of doing things like old times.
