Every Child Is an Artist: Helping Creativity Flourish at Home
Louisa Penfold, PhD
Creativity gives children a powerful way to explore ideas, express themselves, and make sense of the world. Yet many parents aren’t sure how to encourage it at home, especially if they don’t consider themselves “artsy.”
In her book, Every Child Is an Artist, Harvard Art Education Professor Dr. Louisa Penfold makes creativity approachable for children and the adults who care for them. Through playful activities inspired by contemporary artists from around the world, she shows families how everyday and recycled materials can become invitations to explore, imagine, and create together.
We spoke with Louisa about why the arts matter in children’s learning, how parents can support creativity without worrying about doing it “right,” and the small changes that can lead to richer conversations about children’s artwork. She also shared a simple nature-inspired activity families can try with materials they may already have at home.
Why are the arts so important in children’s learning today?
The arts have always been an important part of children’s education. For thousands of years, people around the world have used dance, performance, painting, music, and storytelling to share knowledge, teach skills, and celebrate important moments.
One challenge today is that schools are increasingly focused on children’s performance on standardized tests in literacy and math. These tests are often based on a narrow definition of intelligence and do not always recognize each child’s unique interests, strengths, and curiosities.
This is where the arts come in. They give children opportunities to think and learn in ways that cannot be achieved through words and numbers alone. We can think of art forms as languages that children learn to speak. Movement is a language. Clay is a language. Painting is a language.
When children have opportunities to explore these different languages, they discover new ways to understand themselves, connect with others, and make sense of the constantly changing world around them.
Many parents say they aren’t “artsy” and worry they’ll do it wrong. What does supporting a child’s creativity at home actually look like day to day?
Many parents’ perceptions of their creative abilities are shaped by the opportunities and access they did—or did not—have while growing up. Everyone can be creative; sometimes they just need a little inspiration and a few ideas to help them begin.
Each activity in Every Child Is an Artist includes step-by-step instructions that guide parents through gathering materials, introducing art techniques, and asking playful questions. The book also connects families with artists and their work and includes practical tips, such as how to enjoy messy play in a tidy home and introduce scissors to toddlers.
The activities are designed so children and parents can play together. My hope is that, in doing so, parents will also have an opportunity to reconnect with their own inner creative child.
If you feel silly making art alongside your child or find yourself questioning whether it is a good use of your time, pause and consider where those feelings may be coming from. How much freedom for self-expression did you have while making art as a child? How did your parents and teachers respond to the things you created? Was there a particular experience that shaped whether you think of yourself as an “artsy” person?
Taking a moment to reflect can help you recognize judgments or biases you may have carried into adulthood.
Your book moves beyond familiar names like Picasso and Monet and instead spotlights contemporary artists. What happens when young children encounter contemporary art?
Contemporary art is the art of now. It reflects how artists respond to events, questions, and experiences happening in the world today or in the recent past. It is often playful, conceptual, and at the forefront of material innovation.
Children’s art curricula have historically been dominated by well-known male European artists such as Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Monet—all of whom created extraordinary work. With Every Child Is an Artist, I wanted to expand the range of artists children encounter.
Each chapter showcases contemporary artists from around the world who are creating exciting works of art, including sound sculptures, melting-ice installations, and performances with clay. Exposure to this variety helps children see that art can take many forms—and that there are many ways to be an artist.
What is one well-meaning thing adults often do around children’s art that can get in the way?
Adults often respond to a child’s finished artwork by saying, “I love it!” or “You’re so creative!” Those responses are perfectly fine, but they can also be missed opportunities to have a deeper conversation.
Instead, I encourage adults to ask questions that help children reflect on their creative process:
What were you feeling when you made this?
I can see you spent a lot of time working on this part. Can you tell me more about it?
What was the trickiest part of making this artwork?
What name could you give your artwork?
Questions like these support children’s metacognitive thinking—their ability to become aware of how they think, make decisions, solve problems, and learn.
If a family wanted to try one creative activity this weekend using materials already in the house, what would you suggest?
Parents play an important role in making creativity part of children’s everyday lives. Parents are also very busy, so it helps to think about ways this can be done simply and sustainably.
All the activities in Every Child Is an Artist use recycled or repurposed materials that families may already have at home. One activity you can try right away is creating a nature arrangement.
Try It at Home: Nature Arrangements
Materials
A variety of natural materials, such as sticks, leaves, pine cones, flowers, small rocks, or shells
About two cups of soil or sand, if desired
Tools
A plastic tray or plate
Scissors
Optional design tools, such as forks, spoons, toothbrushes, or a spray bottle, that children can use to add texture to the soil and natural materials
Getting Started
Invite children to help gather natural materials, then sort them by color, shape, size, or any other category that feels interesting.
Place the materials and soil or sand on a tray alongside the tools. If you don’t have soil and a tray, use a piece of paper or work in a small grassy area.
Invite children to arrange the materials. You might encourage their exploration by asking:
What shapes and colors do you notice?
We have leaves, sticks, pine cones, and flowers. What kind of picture could you make with them?
What patterns can you create?
Can you make an arrangement with contrasting colors or textures?
Creativity Begins with an Invitation
Supporting children’s creativity does not require expensive supplies, elaborate projects, or artistic expertise. It begins with giving children time, materials, encouragement, and the freedom to explore.
As Every Child Is an Artist reminds us, creativity is not about producing something perfect. It is about curiosity, experimentation, connection, and discovery. When adults make room for that process and perhaps join in themselves they help children build confidence in their ideas and discover that their voices matter.
The next time your child creates something, resist the urge to focus only on the finished product. Sit beside them, ask a thoughtful question, and listen. You may be surprised by how much there is to discover.
