He Thought He Was Getting Out of Schoolwork... Little Did He Know! 🎨

Last week, one of my tutoring kiddos challenged me to a drawing contest.

I laughed.

And then I laughed some more.

Because if there is one thing I KNOW about myself, it's that I CAN NOT DRAW! 😂

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a pretty creative person. I love crafting, making things, designing, decorating, and coming up with fun projects.

But drawing?

Nope.

There's a reason I leave that particular talent to my daughter Samantha!

I explained this to my student, but he wasn't the least bit concerned.

He assured me that I would be just fine.

All I had to do was follow the video and draw what they told me to draw.

Oh, is that all? Easy peasy! 🙄

Sometimes You Just Have to Give It a Try

So we pulled up the video, grabbed our supplies, and started drawing.

It didn't take me very long to remember exactly WHY I don't draw.

Some people can look at a picture and somehow make their pencil create the same thing on paper.

I am not one of those people!

But we kept going.

We laughed at our drawings, compared our progress, followed the instructions, and just enjoyed ourselves.

And you know what?

I actually didn't do half bad!

Was it a masterpiece? Absolutely not.

Will I be opening an art studio anytime soon? Also no. 😂

But we had fun.

And honestly, that was one of the most important parts of the whole experience.

We Were Doing More Than Drawing

One of the things I have always believed, both as a homeschooling mom and now as a homeschool helper and tutor, is that relationships matter.

Kids need to know that you care about them.

They need to feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, trying something new, and admitting when they don't understand something.

And those things don't always happen simply because you sit down together with a workbook.

Sometimes they happen while you're laughing over a silly drawing.

Sometimes they happen while you're building something, playing a game, baking cookies, or working on a craft.

During our drawing challenge, my student and I were doing something together that neither of us had to be perfect at.

He was encouraging me.

I was following his lead.

We were communicating, laughing, and enjoying the experience.

And we were building a connection.

That connection matters because trust opens the door to learning.

When a child trusts you, feels respected, and knows it's okay to make mistakes, it can become easier for them to tackle the harder things.

Like those math worksheets he was trying to avoid! 😂

Why I've Always Included Art in Our Homeschool

During my 24 years of homeschooling, arts and crafts were always part of our learning.

And not because all six of my kids loved art.

They didn't.

And certainly not because they were all naturally talented at it.

They weren't.

But I knew there were benefits to having them create things with their hands, use their imaginations, and try something outside their comfort zones.

We painted, cut, glued, colored, built, designed, and made all kinds of projects over the years.

Some turned out beautifully.

Others? Well, let's just say they were made with love. 😂

But the finished product was never the only reason we did them.

The process was just as important.

Art Is Good for the Brain!

Here's something I wish more parents realized.

Art isn't just a fun activity to fill time.

It can also be a wonderful learning tool!

When children draw, paint, color, or work on crafts, they're practicing skills that support development in many different areas.

Fine motor skills and coordination

Holding a pencil, cutting with scissors, controlling a paintbrush, and manipulating small materials help children practice hand control and coordination.

Concentration and attention

Following a drawing tutorial requires listening, watching, remembering instructions, and paying attention to details.

Visual and spatial processing

Children have to think about shapes, sizes, proportions, and where different parts of a picture belong.

Memory and problem-solving

Art encourages children to remember steps, make decisions, adjust when something doesn't work, and figure out what to do next.

Creativity and flexible thinking

There isn't always one correct answer in art. Children can experiment, make choices, and discover different ways to accomplish something.

And here's another benefit I love.

Art gives children opportunities to practice making mistakes without feeling like they've failed.

A line goes crooked?

That's okay.

The color doesn't look right?

Try another one.

Your picture doesn't look exactly like the one in the video?

Neither did mine! 😂

Drawing and other creative activities engage multiple brain systems involved in movement, attention, perception, and thinking. Research also suggests that arts participation can support aspects of learning and well-being, although the effects vary by activity and aren't as simple as automatically growing gray matter or activating both sides of the brain.

The important thing is that children are actively practicing valuable skills while creating something.

Learning Doesn't Always Need a Worksheet

Now, don't misunderstand me.

I believe there is absolutely a place for worksheets, textbooks, repetition, and structured lessons.

Sometimes you really do need to sit down and practice those multiplication facts.

But I also believe learning should involve more than sitting at a table filling in blanks.

Children learn through experiences.

Through conversations.

Through creativity.

Through play.

And through relationships.

As a homeschool mom, I always tried to find ways to bring those things into our days.

And now, as I'm working with other families, I'm bringing that same philosophy into my tutoring sessions.

I want the children I work with to learn their academic skills, absolutely.

But I also want them to feel encouraged, supported, confident, and excited to discover new things.

Sometimes that means working through a challenging math lesson.

And sometimes it means accepting a drawing challenge, even when you know your artistic abilities are questionable at best.

Little Did He Know...

So, back to my student.

I'm pretty sure he thought he had successfully talked me out of doing math worksheets.

And technically, I suppose he did.

For that little part of our session, anyway.

But while we were drawing, he was practicing concentration, listening, following directions, visual processing, and fine motor coordination.

We were also building communication and trust.

And we had a great time doing it!

He got his drawing challenge.

I got an opportunity to strengthen our relationship and support his learning in a different way.

I'd call that a win for both of us!

Because sometimes the best learning happens when kids don't even realize they're learning.

And sometimes the teacher learns something, too.

Like the fact that maybe, just maybe, I can draw a little better than I thought. 😉

❤️ Jennifer

Learning Together — Building hearts, minds and faith.