Saturday, May 23, 2015

Teaching the Art of Sharing (Art Studio Diaries # 2)

My 3.5 y.o. been going to preschool for two years and the only three questions I've asked repeatedly whenever I bump into his teachers and supervisors are: is he happy and enjoying school? Is he disciplined? Does he play well with others? And the answer has been YES, everytime. 

But things are a bit different when mommys around, aren't they? With mom around he thinks it's his right to complain and as a mom for me to interfere, and make things right. After all, I'm the one who is with him the maximum amount of time, who holds him tight when he's hurt. I'm the one he climbs on top of when he wakes up in the middle of the night.



Teaching the Art of Sharing (Art Studio Diaries-2)




With playmates, most times its peaceful co-existence, such as they play with the sensory bin (containing coffee beans and kitchen utensils: Don't know what it is- but kids are fascinated by this bin!)


Teaching the Art of Sharing (Art Studio Diaries-2)
Painting by rolling car, bike & digger wheels on paint and then paper

But then there are meltdowns becuz his playmate took his pebble (yeah, pebble). And sometimes it gets me flustered, I.e, if it's in my Art Class! He will want the same color the other ones using or the same brush.

Don't we all wish things got okay only their own! Children will wise up and 'get' it? They don't. Sigh!


      

Teaching the Art of Sharing (Art Studio Diaries-2)
Painting by rolling car, bike & digger wheels on paint and then paper
Like I'd written in a post earlier, "why I don't trick my child to make my life easy", amidst all the tantrums and crazy obsessions (eg, fighting over a pebble) children are very logical! The *only* way to convince him is to give him a proper and reasonable explanation. NOT during the meltdown, but *before* entering the situation itself. My Art Class was an opportunity to teach him the Art of Sharing!
 

Teaching the Art of Sharing (Art Studio Diaries-2)
Stamping: Blocks with Yarn tied around them
Teaching the Art of Sharing (Art Studio Diaries-2)
Stamping: Blocks with Yarn tied around them
So Here's how the conversation went the night before an Art Class:

Me: you like it when your friends comes over, ya?

Him: yes!

Me: you like playing alone?

Him: no! Why are you going somewhere ? (Lol!)

Me: no, I'm not. But your friends coming tomorrow. When you're alone, you have ALL the toys and paints ALL for yourself. So when your friend comes, let him also play with your paints ok? You like playing with your friend right? So let him also play, and when he goes, ALL toys and paints are ALL for you again! So when he plays, just wait for 5 mins for him to finish, and then ask for it ok? That's how you Share.



That did the trick. 
  

  
Teaching the Art of Sharing (Art Studio Diaries-2)
Stamping: Circles & Squares

Next day when his playmate took the orange paint, he screamed "I want orange too!!" Then walked over to his side and said "you use orange, and after 5 mins give it to me ok?" My proud mommy moment! 

So after two Art Sessions full of tantrums and meltdowns, I finally had a peaceful one. And after it was over, I mentioned this in front of his dad and gave him a toblerone.

  
Teaching the Art of Sharing (Art Studio Diaries-2)
Stamping: Circles & Squares

Although the toblerone "sealed the deal", A LOT of handholding is required! Constant reminders, before and during the situation. Constant till it's drilled in their heads and it comes naturally to them!

Other than sharing there are a few manners I'm trying to rectify. I love it when children are blunt, c'mon he has his full life ahead to be diplomatic. But that doesn't mean he should bang the phone down if he doesn't want to talk. or turn his head and walk away if someone he doesn't like gives him an enthusiastic hello! 


Teaching the Art of Sharing (Art Studio Diaries-2)
Painting by rolling Ping Pong Balls in Paint, then on paper

The aim is to be "borderline polite", without being diplomatic or a pushover. So the new habit I've taught him is to just say "I don't want to talk now, I'll call you later okay?" Before keeping the receiver down. (At most times, he wants to talk just two mins later!).
 
Teaching the Art of Sharing (Art Studio Diaries-2)
Painting by rolling Ping Pong Balls in Paint, then on paper


My dream list is endless: Talk softly in the stairwell, library, book stores. No interrupting when adults are talking. Playing everyones songs by turns in the car. 

What's in your agenda? Your current dream list?


The pictures in this post contain some Art Studio activities, stamping circles & squares, painting by rolling cars over paint and then paper, paint with ping pong balls, stamping with yarn tied around blocks. All these required sharing and taking turns!

Looking for more Art Activities for Little Kids?

for Potato Stamping, click here
for Lemon Wedge Flowers, click here
more on Paint with Ping Pong Balls, click here
more on Painting with Yarn, click here


Until later! Stay in touch!



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17 comments:

  1. I like the method you used and wish it would work with siblings. I'm still searching for a way of making my two boys more kind to each other and not fight over toys. Funny thing is that the youngest will share if you ask but my oldest considers grabbing a better solution...though it ends with tears on each side (the youngest also knows how to fight for what's his :)

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    1. siblings thrive on indignation ! lol!
      and Yes ! Ive noticed that too: in case of age gap- the older one grabs, younger one cries and complains to us. So my kids a grabber / crier depending on how old is his play mate!

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  2. I discovered how logical children could be when my oldest was 3 (really long story), made lots of things easier.

    Can I be in your art class too? It looks like so much fun! I might need a 5 minute timer for the purple so I don't hog it ;-)

    I jumped over from Its Overflowing but don't a share for the party

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! We all need our respective timers ;)

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  3. Great post! I too would love to join your art class!! I will be featuring your post at our next Brag About It party! Hope you'll join us - the party starts Monday's at midnight!
    ~Laurie

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  4. Great post! I too would love to join your art class!! I will be featuring your post at our next Brag About It party! Hope you'll join us - the party starts Monday's at midnight!
    ~Laurie

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  5. Hi, I'm here from #HomeMattersParty.
    I only have 1 grandchild, and her mama doesn't let her play with others yet. But I took her to a children's Museum, and I was very surprised how well she did.. She's only 22 months.
    I'll have to come back to get more art ideas!

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    1. I didn't let my little guy play with paints when he was 22m old too! umm..i think he was 2.5 yo when i started allowing it! The main reason is toddlers tend to put things in their mouth (and everywhere else) and I didn't want to begin his journey with me screaming "no!" every three mins! 2.5 (or so) onwards they start listening to instructions, following some rules!

      my mother though now has watercolors at her place too- for my kid to paint when he hangs out with them :)

      Thanks for stopping by Melinda!

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  6. Great strategy and it worked! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty

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  7. Thanks for sharing with the Say G'day Party Swapna! All your submissions pinned! Look forward to seeing you next week!

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  8. Great post! Makes me want to host an art class too! Thanks for linking up at the Thoughtful Spot!

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    1. Its a lot of fun (and very exhausting too!). Thanks for stopping by Samantha

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  9. Great way of teaching him to share! I think it is so important. Sure kids are going to have squabbles about sharing now and then, but the more you reinforce it the quicker they learn. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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