I laid out crayons and copy paper for both of us to draw on. This was going to be an opportunity to teach JDaniel how to draw a simple fire truck using simple squares, rectangles, and circles. I would show him how to draw one and then he would create his own version of the fire truck.
Once things were set up on the kitchen table, I called him over to create with me.
He took a seat right next to me and listened to my plan. He watched me show him how to create a fire truck. When I had finished, he pronounced it to be a very nice fire truck.
He selected a red crayon just as I had. He placed it on the paper and made a gigantic circle. A circle wasn’t needed until it was time for the fire truck to be done and then it won’t need that big of a wheel.
He continued drawing adding several dots and some long and short lines to the circle.
The teacher in me started to think about what I have said wrong in my directions that lead to a big circle and not a square or rectangle.
The teacher continued to wonder if he had forgotten how to draw a rectangle or a square. Maybe I had only dreamed that he knew how to draw them in the first place.
Finally, the mom in me kicked in and finally asked JDaniel what he was drawing.
“Should I write down what it is on the paper?” I asked.
JDaniel looked horrified. “Mom, he will know what it is!” JDaniel declared.
Part of me wanted to write down what it was! Part of me wanted it to be a truck just like the one I had drawn.
The wise part of me paused for a moment and realized that this wasn’t my drawing it was his. That wise mom part stopped to think about how JDaniel would feel if I insisted on it being my way.
It is that wise mom part that I hope will prevail in instances like this and remember that when JDaniel creates the creation he makes is his not mine.
That cake is awesome!
what a great fire truck picture he drew. and that cake? wow! amazing!
A fire cat…kids are so creative. Thank you for sharing. Those are the simple moments that I want to remember.
oh you’ve hit a heartstring. I love the artwork of children. I love it. They haven’t been constrained by their creativity yet, they draw and mean it. I was an art major and I can’t tell you how ANGRY it makes me that people TELL children what color to make a lady bug.
Okay I get that they are trying to teach them…but in reality a lady bug is not actually solid red. There are tones and shades a person will miss if they stick the poor little bug in the red box. I haven’t checked, but I’m betting you COULD find some purple on a real life lady bug.
Anyway I’m so glad you let him express his creativity. The world needs more fire cats!
Oh yes! It is so easy to want them to do it “right” that we can lose them in the process. Great reminder
I love his fire cat! How creative he is 🙂
I love how creative kids can be – a fire cat! How awesome!
It’s hard sometimes to not listen to that teacher voice… But letting them be creative their own way – priceless.
This is a terrific and instructive story. I am guilty as charged in often trying to “guide” my daughter too much in her projects and then wondering why she rarely chooses crafts as her way of self-expression. Hmm…
I love that you kinda learned a little lesson here, and his fire cat is just wonderful! 🙂 (As is that cake…wow!)
Oh, I so struggle with this sometimes. The perfectionist in me sometimes wants to “help” my 3yo with her creations, but then I guess it wouldn’t be hers, right? A good lesson for us to learn.
Love his fire cat! This happens all the time with my younger son and I have to remind myself to pull back and let him do his thing. And the cake!! Wow.
Great drawing..I especially love the fire cat!! Blessings!!
I often want to take over too when my kids aren’t doing something how I think they should. It’s hard to sit back and just let them do their thing.
I can totally relate, I have to hold back all the time!
Such a cute cake 😀
That’s cool he was able to have the party at the fire station!
I wish I could make cakes like that too! I think it’s funny how my kids are SO offended it I don’t know exactly what their drawing is. It is just so obvious to them! lol
That is so adorable! I love how kids come up with things like that.
Too cute! I always have to remind myself to say “tell me about your picture” – if I just went guessed – I’d be wrong!
A great lesson for both ‘student’ and ‘teacher’ I have to remember this every day with my class…
that cake is awesome 🙂
i love how you remind all of us about life through your posts… there are times that you hit home with me…