Tip #1
Off the Screen and into the Sketchbook!
In today’s screen-saturated world, there’s a surprisingly simple practice that can help bring balance to our kids' hearts and minds. It works really fast. All you need is a blank book. Now, turn off the devices, grab a pencil, and make time for a little reflection. You're ready to unlock the power of the sketchbook!
The humble sketchbook is a wonderful tool for calming the soul, sharpening the mind, and working through hard emotions. What am I feeling today? Am I angry? Lonely? Stressed? Taking a moment to write these things down is very effective because it helps us to hear our own thoughts and begin to problem-solve. A gratitude list is an excellent exercise as well, as it has the effect of shifting our minds to an expansive, hopeful place even if our starting emotion was heavy.
Photos by PureJulia for Unsplash
Alongside reflective writing, regular sketching sharpens drawing skills. Observational drawing (drawing something while closely looking at it) will take skills even further, while imaginative drawing allows for new connections and ideas.
Leonardo da Vinci, perhaps the most famous “Sketchbooker” of all time, wrote and drew all sorts of things in his blank books—from mundane shopping lists, to complex art compositions, to philosophical reflections on the role of the artist. His sketchbooks were a mirror to own his mind–a tool to make his life and his art more effective.
Encourage your kids to make a habit of journaling with a sketchbook. It’s a great alternative to screen time and a core discipline of an artist.
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