Unless ultra-realism is your thing, there is no better art than toddler art.
We want art to be spontaneous, radical, and vibrant. That’s exactly what the kids give us.
Inspiration is the genius of a toddler. I’d argue there’s no individual more inspirational than a child. I wish I could capture and share all of the thrilling moments I have witnessed and art I have admired. I know every parent does. You feel like the world would be a more successful place if we were all so glorious in our actions. But that just isn’t the case. The moments are fleeting and humanity stumbles on.
Their art is amazing and their ideas are liberating, but they will only exist in this divine realm for a short time. Eventually they will grow up like the rest of us. They need to, I understand that, and great things will come from their maturity. Currently however, I am savoring these angelic times.
I encourage you to please make stuff with your kids. Keep them working. You’ll be surprised by what they can do. It will be especially satisfying for you to give them opportunities to be proud of themselves. Bake cakes, make cookies, cut and glue, collect rocks and pile them up, cook soup, paint shirts, climb, bedazzle sneakers, make salad or fruit kabobs, and sing songs.
“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. For while knowledge defines what we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover and create.”
-Albert Einstein
