by Joanne Greco

Created on: March 14, 2007   Last Updated: April 25, 2007

My daughter is an artist.

No, you've never heard of her. You've never seen her art hanging in a gallery. What then makes her an artist?

She creates art.

It's that simple.

She's been very patient with me as I try to grasp this. Because I spent 13 years in the public school system, it was hard for me to wrap my brain around the idea. But for her, an unschooler who lives life and learns outside of school, it comes natural.

When a child shows an interest in art and parents rush out to find a class so they can "learn the right way", I think they're doing them a disservice.

They're showing them that there is a right way and a wrong way to create art. That the right way is in that classroom. That the teacher knows the right way.

They're teaching them not to follow their instincts but to listen to someone version of what they should be doing.

I remember a conversation I had with another mother. My daughter had just finished painting a picture using water colors and when she showed us, the other mother said "That's very good. Maybe one day you'll be an artist". I know she meant well but I corrected her and said "She already is an artist".

She was taken back but was open to this shift in her thinking. She sat back for a minute and then smiled and said "Yes, she is, isn't she"? She thanked me for helping her change her perspective and it reminded me a book title I saw in the library once, "Don't believe everything you think".

There's plenty of time later on for formal classes when they're older, if THEY want to pursue that. By that time they should be comfortable enough with themselves that they will view the class as just another tool in their lives and not the "only way".

Creating art is a personal journey that allows us to follow our heart.
Don't rob your child of that.

Learn more about this author, Joanne Greco.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.