Child's Play

 
 

I’ve been volunteering at a school for children with autism during the last few months in an art program. I’m assisting the ceramist who comes in twice a month to work with the children to create projects and take pleasure in working with clay.  Just like any other group of kids I’ve done art projects with, there are kids who love art time and others who have no interest at all. It’s funny how some of us are drawn to art and crafts so much that we feel lost if art is not a part of our lives. Others can appreciate it from afar and still others just don’t get it.

One boy in the class thoroughly enjoys the whole aspect of clay and creates a wonderful collection of objects almost instantly. Each time we sit down to work with clay he comes up with fun, imaginative, playful creations for everyone to enjoy. Other children are inspired by his enthusiasm and add to the creativity of our clay time. Some of the kids just enjoy the cool, pliable quality of the clay and prefer to just squish and smoosh until class is finished. The foyer outside the classroom is a showcase of a wonderful collection of zoo animals, masks and soon, bowls of fun fruits and vegetables.

My point today is that creativity is everywhere. If it isn’t coming out of you, it can be coming through you. Allow and encourage others to be creative. Make the time and space to aid others in creating. Take a class. Make a mess. Inspiration is hard to miss when you’re in a group.  Part of the joy is not just the finished object; sometimes it’s the creation of the laughing, messy togetherness that comes with being around creative people. You’ll always come away with something; maybe not a ceramic bowl, but almost always a more positive outlook.

Comments

[Molly]

"...My point today is that creativity is everywhere. If it isn’t coming out of you, it can be coming through you..." Oh, yes, this is so true!
Just the other day I brought watercolors, colored pencils and a water-color pad to my friend who is now wheelchair-bound with a debilitating disease, and said: "These are for us to play with!" He called today to say he has already begun "" with the colored pencils...drawing. Yay! Creativity keeps us in the flow of life.