The truth is, you do not need to be Picasso or Rembrandt to teach your children to enjoy art and be creative. Take it from me! I can’t draw a stickman, my play-doh sculptures always end up being snakes and the every painting I complete features a geometrically challenged house with a rainbow overtop and the sun in the corner.

Do I care that my two-year-old’s artistic creations are closer to hanging in the Louvre than mine are? No way! The kids can usually put a name on what it was that I drew, even if I can’t figure out what it is myself. The whole point of teaching your children to be artistic is to teach them to enjoy themselves and express themselves.

Sit down with your kids and let your creative juices flow. Color a picture, draw a self-portrait or pretend you’re Jackson Pollack and throw paint all over the paper. You don’t have to hang it on the fridge for the world to see, just have fun and enjoy the quality time with your children.

If you just can’t get comfortable with drawing and painting freestyle, look for other options that will allow you and your children to be creative together. There are paint-by-number pictures, pre-cut craft kits and lots of other arts and crafts projects available at the local craft or discount store that are perfect for the non-artistic artist.

Spending time exercising their creativity is so important to our children and their developing minds. Add to that the benefits of quality time spent with mom and these projects can be some of the most important moments in the lives of your children. So hang up your self-consciousness and create a beautiful work of art with your children. You will both be glad that you did!

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