This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
As a parent, it's not uncommon to feel a little embarrassed when your child's school asks you to participate in a creative activity. But what happens when that activity is a drawing exercise, and you're not exactly the next Picasso?
My son's school has a tradition called Bookworm Week, where parents are asked to read a book with their child over the holidays and then present it to the class. This year, the activity took a turn for the worse when we were asked to draw the main character from the book.
With my son's book being Finding Nemo, I thought I was off to a good start. But as I looked around the room, I realized that I wasn't the only one struggling. The parents were all trying their best, but the results were...interesting.
One parent drew a sun that looked more like an octopus, while another created a badly shaped omelette. The children were giggling and shouting out encouragement, but it was clear that not everyone was a natural artist.
As I looked at the drawings on the board, I couldn't help but think back to my own childhood. I remembered being scolded for drawing on the walls with chalk and charcoal, and how my creativity was stifled as a result.
But this experience was a wake-up call for me. It made me realize that I need to provide my child with the materials and support they need to express themselves creatively. And it also made me appreciate the importance of taking an interest in my child's assignments and activities.
So, the next time my son's school asks me to draw something, I'll be ready. And I'll make sure to show them what I'm made of.
