painter in Toddler.

Painting is a non-verbal form of communication which leave a trail of pigmented visual lines. Plato would call it a form of imitation. Painting is the reproduction of experiences of what individuals feel, see, hear, taste and smell. These senses are identified as energies used to determine colours, the direction of strokes and form for painting. The colours used in painting are often associated with mood, behaviour, intention, etc.

Certain colours stimulate certain responses from nerve-sense system which produce emotions and these colours get associated with a certain feel like feeling the blues or seeing red. (Helmholtz, Physiological Optics, 1867).

Painting is a great way to keep your toddlers creatively engaged. Toddlers start showing interest in art when they are eight months old. After they get familiar with the basic idea, they experience different stages of art development. These stages reflect the stages of the child’s development. In stage one, the child is experimenting with colors, strokes, and mediums of painting. The development of motor skills paves way for the second stage, where the toddler has greater control over his movements which helps him make circular patterns and straight lines. In the third stage, toddlers are able to combine these lines and circles to create and draw denotative objects like stickman, sun, etc. Understanding and materializing connotative ideas of drawn objects betide later with age.

Creative art like drawing and painting renders emotional satisfaction in toddlers. This satisfaction comes from the fact that, while drawing or painting, a toddler has full control over his work of art. He takes autonomous decisions where he can pick his own style, colours, shapes, and decide when the painting is complete. Each of these aspects gives toddlers the opportunity to freely express what they are thinking and feeling, consequently building their self-esteem. (Schirrmacher, 1998) Painting and drawing aids in the development of Hand Eye coordination. By the age of three they have reached a benchmark in hand eye and coordination, when they are able

to throw a ball in a specific direction or make strokes as they desire. Painting enhances fine motor skills and hastens development of Hand Eye coordination. “The first writing of the human being was drawing, not writing”. (Marjane Satrapi) Languages were born out of symbols which grew out of drawing made by our ancestors. Drawing and painting is the foundation of words, letters, symbols. Toddlers are taught to draw alphabets which slowly conjure to words, sentences, paragraphs, etc. Ergo, creative art is the basis of literature.
Parents must cultivate the habit of drawing and painting in toddlers. Introduce them to different textures, shapes and figures. Finger painting is a great sensory experience and a great way to direct your child’s interest towards painting. Other mediums of painting
can include cut vegetables and fruits, leaves, etc. As children grow old, their perception and representation of art changes. They are often restricted to a certain type of drawing; writing letters and words. This could prove to be harmful as it restricts their ability to think and create outside the box. Drawing is an interplay of various sources and must always be encouraged. (Arnheim, 1954).