by guest blogger, Lindsay Helm, Executive Director & Managing Editor of Teen Creative Magazine
As parents, our job is to assist our children in their journey toward their true selves.
For some, their creative expression is the most important piece of that puzzle, but it isn’t something that
always receives the attention or nourishment it needs.
If we’re being honest, a lot of other things become a priority in our day to day life with our children.
Staying on top of homework, classes, sports and other commitments leave little time
for creativity. And let’s not forget about your own jobs, doctors appointments and everyday responsibilities. Truly, it seems like there isn’t enough time in the day most days!
As a former creative teenager, who ultimately grew up to be a creative adult, I can attest to the importance of making space for creative teens to be uniquely themselves.
SUPPORT:
The first step toward ensuring a safe space for your creative teen is support! As with anything, your child is less likely to succeed if they don’t have the support at home.
Being a creative means that your child may often want alone time to write, paint, draw, think, etc.
Supporting them may feel like ignoring them, but from one creative to another—sometimes that’s exactly what they need!
Another method of support is to engage with them on their terms. If your teen comes to you with a piece of their work, set everything else aside just for a moment to show your support.
Read their work, marvel over their newest drawing, give them validation for their efforts. Any work of art should be celebrated—especially at these beginning stages of creativity.
This will help your child to keep going! This is very important, because creatives often express themselves fully through their art, and it is crucial that whatever they create is not criticized or deemed offensive.
They need to feel like they can express themselves fully without fear of being disciplined. Remember, this is a safe way for your teen to express themselves!
What we don’t want is for teens to feel like they have something about themselves to extinguish. We want to embrace their uniqueness and celebrate who they are!
PROVIDE RESOURCES:
Depending on the type of art your teen is interested in, you may want to look into community and online resources to support your teen’s creative journey. Typically, community centers and places like the YMCA have art programs at a fair cost. And they usually have a variety of programs to choose from! If cost is an issue, reach out to these organizations and inquire about program scholarships or financial assistance. Many of these organizations have built in funds to support every teen.
If your teen isn’t interested in doing any kind of extracurricular programs, they may want to turn their room into their creative safe haven!
Giving them permission to paint the walls, rearrange the furniture and decorate how they please is a wonderful place to start! With a little help from you, they not only feel supported, but they have the resources they need to create a space that inspires them.
You can also encourage them to save money to purchase a few small items they want or need, while also keeping their artistic needs in mind for birthdays and holidays.
Something as simple as a new pencil set, some acrylic paints, a guitar strap or a journal goes a long way for a creative teen.
Start by initiating the conversation about what items your teen might be interested in—what they have to say might surprise you!
PEER SUPPORT AND MENTORING:
Who your teen decides to spend their time with is a huge indicator for what they might be interested in. If their closest friends support their creativity, they will be more apt to continue their artistic journeys. But just as your teen is unique, so are all their friends. They might not be interested in the same things your teen is.
Getting involved in extracurricular programs or clubs at school is a great way for your child to make new friends and receive that peer support from teens who have similar interests. They may meet other teens they otherwise wouldn’t have. This also provides a chance for peer mentoring, which establishes trust within your teen and their peers. It is difficult sometimes to share artwork with others, and having peers alongside them to trust is a great way to encourage continued creativity!
When your teen watches other teens step into their unique selves, they are more likely to do the same.
For those of us who feel most alive when we create, we must be surrounded by friends and mentors who do the same! It truly allows us to shine in all the best ways.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can support your creative teen through resources, peer support and mentoring, check out The Teen Creative.
Right now, the teens in this inclusive online community are gearing up to publish the first edition of The Teen Creative Magazine—where the articles and artwork are all created by them!
Through support from their like-minded peers and professional mentorship from leading professionals in the creative industry, the teens are learning, growing and thriving!
For more information go to www.teencreative.org
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