“At the age of four I painted like Raphael, then it took me a lifetime to learn how to paint like a child”. (Pablo Picasso) WHY IS DRAWING IMPORTANT FOR THE CHILD?

“Are you good at drawing?” This question usually divides the world of adults into two broad categories: the first, those born with the brush in hand, capable of portraying human figures and landscapes with great ease; the second, of those who scribble squiggles on a sheet of paper only when talking on the phone.

For the most part, the adults who describe themselves as belonging to this second group, have forgotten the feeling of well-being that comes from seeing the shapes and colors arranged on the sheet starting from one’s hand. Often, the aesthetic judgment, one’s own and that of others, prevails and ends up inhibiting one from living this experience with serenity, which instead turns out to be a very important activity for the growth and expression of the personality, from the earliest years of age.

In fact, drawing and painting are particularly intense and emotional communication tools, which are well suited to the mentality and level of development of the child. They are a real expressive act with which the little ones can represent their inner experience, the sensations they experience, their way of interpreting the world and the events that occur around them.

Already from the age of two and a half, when they have now acquired hand-eye control and choose which signs to draw on the paper, children feel a sense of pleasure in drawing, because they experience the possibility of creating and inventing, affirming their own personality. This increases self-confidence and self-esteem. That’s why the question we started from, “Are you good at drawing?” it has no value for our little ones, because with their drawings they manifest the uniqueness of their character in a spontaneous and immediate way, without conditioning.

But there is even more. According to Anna Oliverio Ferraris, psychologist and psychotherapist, through drawing the child learns to elaborate even conflicts : he takes his thoughts out of himself, organizes them on the paper and can look at them with detachment, attenuating the confusion.

Precisely because drawing has such important effects on children’s personality development, parents have the task of fully supporting this activity. First of all with the appreciation for what has been achieved: it generates gratification and therefore stimulates the desire to repeat the beautiful experience. The presence of the adult must be perceived, but not as an intrusion of one’s work, which instead can produce insecurity. No corrections, criticisms and precepts . What is important to do to guide the child through this experience is to create a safe environment for him to experiment freely. Feeling the consistency of the colors, getting your hands dirty (alas also the clothes!) Means being “inside the drawing” for him, living it fully.Therefore, the choice of products suitable for all ages is also important : from wax pencils that leave their mark easily, to finger colors, tempera … it is good that all are certified, safe and non-toxic products, and maybe … super washable!

A wide selection of these products can be found on our website, with the recommended age guide and description of features.