There is no question at all that children love to draw. They love to paint, draw, sketch and scribble, with pencils, crayons, paint and fingers dunked in gloop - it's a natural tendency, and should certainly be encouraged. But why do children enjoy the artistic process so much, and is it really so valuable?



From the earliest age at which a child can hold a crayon, they will delight in seeing coloured lines appear on paper. It is, to all intents and purposes, the very first time that a child has exerted his or her will upon the world in a definite, tangible and semi permanent way. No parent can erase that line, it is their own creation, and that line is here to stay. The child discovers a way of expressing him or herself, and this is a step towards their understanding of their own individuality, their own person.

As they grow older, so will their ability to create and bring into existence patterns and colours and shapes that they see in their mind. For us as adults, it is fascinating to see a world through child's eyes, and their pictures can often tell us so much.

Much more, of course, than the child's words. Feelings, emotions, concerns and wishes are all played out on the canvas, for us to see in ways that would be impossible if left solely to words. Straight away we see who the child sees as their most important or relevant person - usually the mother, who will be drawn tallest. Much taller even than the father in most cases, despite the height difference being the other way round. However, remember that the child, being so low down, will not see the same height difference. Try lying on the floor and telling who is taller than whom - it's not easy unless you already know.

Often you will see hands drawn in great detail, even adorned with fingernails, rings and knuckles, although the head might well be devoid of ears, and the legs barely much more than sticks. Why is this so? Again, we must learn to use children's images as a way of seeing the world through their eyes. Think about how many times your hands reach towards a child - to pick them up, hold their hand, take or receive something, or simply to play games. Your hands are the things that a child sees almost more than anything else of yours, and so are more important to it than your legs, or your ears.

In the same way we can learn to see the world through a child's eyes, we can begin to understand how valuable this tool is to them as a form of communication, and realise that this should be encouraged at all costs. There are studies which show that when we are being creative the brain works harder, developing patterns and connections, and increasing overall intelligence. We are creative creatures at heart, and our children are reminding us of this in their own way. It is up to us to remember this, to look, and see the world as we all once did.