Aesthetics: Learning to see beauty in the world around us

If you missed my first two posts on art education, find them here and here.

image by Martin LaBar

I’m really excited about this topic because I believe it to be the most important aspect of art education. I believe strongly in what I’ve talked about so far…things like pre-reading and fine motor skills, math and science concepts, and understanding different perspectives on history and life…all those things that we can gain from the world of art. But learning to look and see…it’s a gift that goes much deeper than book knowledge.

Our heart longs to see and hear and feel beautiful things, I believe, because of who created us. Teaching a child to appreciate aesthetic experiences gives him a gift that will enrich his life.

So, how in the world do you teach this? I have a house full of active boys (five and under) whose favorite activity is running around the couch…so it would seem that a concept as abstract as aesthetics might be a little out of reach. But it’s really a very simple part of every day.

image by richard.heeks

Slow down. If you have preschoolers, you’ve probably heard this advice before. Young children are naturally curious, and they often stop to notice things that we don’t. When I hear, “Look, Mommy!”, I need to be able to stop and look and wonder with them. Maybe I’ll go a little further and point out the colors in the leaf or the texture in the rock they just showed me.

Share your own experiences. When you’re blowing bubbles outside, study the colors and swirls with your children. If you’re washing the car together, point out the swirly pattern the soap makes in the water. Look at the beautiful architecture or patterns on the sidewalk when you’re walking downtown. One of my favorites is the lovely patterns of leaves dancing on the wall when the sun shines through the trees in the morning. Look for simple, beautiful moments and share them with your children.

Create aesthetic experiences. Here’s a great one: Fill a clear glass or jar with water and, while your children are watching, add a couple drops of food coloring. Watch together as the colors swirl and disperse. If you homeschool older children, have them write about what they see.

Surround your children with beauty. Some of you are probably much better at this than I am. One of my current goals is to add little bits of beauty to our home. I love to cut fresh flowers and bring them inside. Let your kids eat off the nice dishes. Hang nice art or pictures on the walls. I’m not talking about spending lots of money on decorating…just doing simple things to show your family that beauty is important.

image by the biology teacher

I speak often of preschool children because that’s where I am, and because it’s the most natural time to start. But as your children grow, this concept will grow with them. Learning to recognize and appreciate simple beauty in their surroundings can lead to stopping and appreciating a beautiful moment… a beautiful song…the beauty inside a person. It’s something we all need a little more of, don’t you think?

Have a beautiful weekend.