By Lewis
Finding an activity to share with your child is always exciting. However, it may seem like a waste of time, especially if college is coming up. If this is something you’re worried about, don’t be. Here are four reasons to create art with your teen.
1. Improved Mental Health
Mental health is extremely important, especially when it comes to teenagers. Teens have a lot to deal with, not to mention social media and increasingly worrisome world news. Therefore, you’ll want to engage in activities that minimize any such mental stresses.
Creating art with your teen is a perfect option to try. After all, making art in general can be very therapeutic. Forming something visual may activate your brain’s reward center and release serotonin. Art also requires a lot of concentration, which can help people block out other stressors. If you’d like to learn more about helping your brain and energy, you may want to research Thrive side effects.
If your teen is amenable to it, creating art with you, in particular, may be even more effective. Working with someone you love on a personal project can be rewarding, especially if you’re not too focused on quality.
2. Increased Creativity
Creativity is one of the most helpful tools a teen can develop. This skill allows people to think outside of the box, create new ideas and envision a different future. Unfortunately, a rigid school program can make it hard for kids to develop creativity. Therefore, taking the time to make art may be instrumental in improving your child’s creative impulses.
One way to encourage the use of creativity is to let your teen take charge. While you can still play a part in this experience, you’ll want your child to work on conceiving new ideas. Be sure to empathize that the sky’s the limit (within reason). Any image your teen comes up with can be used.
Another thing to try is exploring various mediums. Creating art isn’t limited to brushing paint onto a canvas. If you want to get more creative, you can try making homemade sculptures or planting a strategic garden.
3. Stronger Parent/Child Bond
Few things are healthier than cultivating a strong bond between parents and children. Unfortunately, this can be difficult, especially once your child becomes a teenager. Because of this, finding group activities that you both enjoy may be very beneficial.
Before you start creating your piece, spend some time planning. Not only does this create more time for you to bond, but it also allows for easy conversation.
While making the art, you can also take the time to chat. Let your teen steer the conversation and practice active listening. This is a great way to show legitimate interest and care. If you want to preserve this memory, be sure to take some pictures. In fact, you might as well make a TikTok while you’re at it.
4. Growth in Collaboration Skills
Collaboration skills are vital in the professional landscape. Despite this, teens are often given solo projects and separated from classmates. Therefore, working on collaboration in a low-pressure setting could be helpful.
During the artistic process, throw some of your ideas into the mix. This is a great way to work on problem-solving. While you aren’t forcing the teen to follow your rules, you are requiring that a compromise be made.
Another technique to try is asking about delegation. Who will be doing what? When will the project take place? Trying to figure out these semantics while considering your preferences may be educational.
Getting to spend quality time with your teenager is amazing. No matter what your project turns out to be (or how badly it’s made) both you and your child can get a lot out of the experience.