June 8 2012
When we are attracted to a beautiful object, there is an urge inside us to have possession of this object. This is also the same for children. As I observe the children create in the Atelier, it has become more of challenge for me to encourage and to scaffold the children’s ways of working for them to create something sincerely using attractive and intelligent materials without keeping and taking them home as their main intent.
A child started making bows by folding papers like a fan. Soon, she put them in her bag to take home. Her bag was full of paper bows. It appeared to me that she was more concerned about what and how many she could take home rather than her creation. Because I am aware that she is a skillful and imaginative child, I wanted her to try to construct her ideas with extra care and thought.
I asked her how she would use these bows since she wanted to take them home. Her idea was to put them on a table at dinnertime. Then I suggested making a table decoration with the bows in the Atelier instead of making it at her home. I presented some materials that I hoped would inspire her. She chose to use a white branch and clay to keep the branch stay upright. She then took her bows out from her bag, placed and glued them onto the branch one at a time. She named it “Christmas Ribbon Tree”.
I believe that children can do amazing things that adults would never ever think of. It is my continuous challenge to support and build on their creativity which every child possesses. It was rewarding for me to see her original ‘fast’ product developed and transformed slowly into a more appealing creation.
