There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child.  There are seven million.
- Walt Streightiff

My daughter and I moved into our new rental almost two months ago, but we’re still unpacking. Yesterday, we tackled a collection of old artwork (hers and mine) – sorting through the pieces, reminiscing about when they were created, deciding which ones to keep and which ones to gently recycle. My daughter – now seven and in the first grade – was fascinated by the art she had created in preschool.
As I looked at those masterpieces made of scribbled marker, finger paints, torn construction paper, glued shells, and every color crayon in the universe, I was struck by how incredibly free and expressive they are. They represent the world as seen through the eyes of my daughter when she was barely potty trained and only just beginning to get a sense of the world beyond our back yard. They are full of people without bodies (just giant heads with arms and legs sticking out), imaginary beasts that defy classification – combining mammalian, reptilian, and avian traits, and indescribably beautiful scribbles that soar across huge pieces of paper with wild abandon, boldness, and humor.

My daughter’s artwork has become much more careful, calculated, and repetitive as she’s gotten older. She and her friends often compare their work now, and I see themes in her work that repeat over and over (and over). She’s currently in her “cat phase.” Every afternoon she comes home with piles of quickly drawn cat portraits – Lady Gaga cats, vampire cats, dancer cats, burglar cats. They have their own charm and whimsy, but they do not have the same uninhibited vibrancy and sense of wonder as her preschool art. Her art no longer springs strictly from her own imagination and what she sees with her eyes. There are other influences at play – friends, media, and so on.

I love my daughter’s new creative works, but I can’t help noticing the differences in how she approaches her self-expression. I wonder how to preserve the individuality and unmitigated joy of the world as seen through a child’s eyes? How do we help them capture and hold onto that feeling of the whole world being full of magic and possibility – purple llamas and flying flowers and talking ants. How do we keep that spark of the unfettered imagination alive and help them translate what they see and feel into artwork that bursts with their vision and heart?

I think that we have to show them how it’s done. I think we have to model for them a life full of imagination and fearless self-expression. We need to encourage them to embark on their own creative adventures and applaud them when they take that chance and let their unique way of seeing the world shine through for others to see. The artwork my daughter creates at home, when the inspiration strikes her, is quite amazing. When she gets lost in herself again – as she did when she was younger and without any cares – the brilliance of her creativity spills all over the page and wonderful things happen.

It’s so important for our children to understand the incredible potential and worth of their unique perspective and imagination. There are so many forces waiting in the world to smother their spark. Through the eyes of children, we see the future. I hope to see it as they do – bright and full impossible possibilities.