Artful Parenting HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR TEEN’S ARTISTIC PASSIONS
ADVENTURE IN THE GREAT A Word From Gu This is Gunner, and I’m really excited to meet everyone! I’m a husky who lives with Brittney, one of the veterinary technicians at The Animal Clinic of Kalispell. My human is actually Brittney’s sister, Sarah, but Brittney’s cool, too, and I’m glad she’s my second person. I’ve lived with Sarah and Brittney since I was a little roly-poly of fluff, just 6 weeks old. I recently turned 1 1/2, and I’m proud to report that I already know a lot of tricks. I can sit, stay, shake, high-five, and, my favorite, give kisses! Not Hey there!
When a teenager is involved in sports, it’s easy to show support for their passion. You take them to practice, go to their games, celebrate their victories, and help them learn from their losses. But what if your teen is more into arts than athletics? Without a literal sideline to cheer from, helping your child grow and develop in fields like writing, painting, and photography can feel — well, abstract. But make no mistake, parents can show concrete support in a few ways to help their budding artist grow and excel in the arts.
to brag, but I’m a pretty smart dog. Brittney says that I’m too smart for my own good sometimes. She also
says I’m a troublemaker, which I can’t deny. Sarah and Brittney take care to make sure all the doors are shut when I’m around. Given the opportunity, I love going through trash cans. Someone has to investigate all those interesting smells!
Stars to Strive For Just as many young athletes have star players they look up to and try to emulate on the field, aspiring artists can look to those making waves in their artistic fields today. Often, school courses focus on “the classics,” which can just
Puppy’s Favorite Peanut Butter Sandwich Treats
feel like homework to an aspiring artist. This is where you can help. Introduce the work of contemporary artists to your teen, or better yet, give your teen opportunities to discover them on their own. Trips to museums and libraries can be just as impactful on growing artists as going to a ball game. No. 1 Fan You may not have to drive your high schooler to writing practice, but you can still give them the tools and support they need to hone their passion. The most obvious way is by asking to see their writing or art, but keep in mind many teens may not be willing to share something that personal. Still, reminding them you’re genuinely interested in their work can help them stick with their passion. Indirect gestures like buying them quality art supplies can also show them you value their craft. The Big Leagues Sure, there’s no varsity watercolor portrait team, but student artists can strive for important milestones. School clubs like student newspapers can provide a semiprofessional outlet for young artists, and there are myriad creative outlets outside the classroom as well. Community galleries, youth anthologies, coffee shop open mics — these are all amazing opportunities for your teen to take their work to the next level. Just as most teen athletes won’t be professional players, you don’t have to expect your artist to be the next Ursula K. Le Guin or Banksy. Whatever their interests are, helping your child explore their passions and enjoy a discipline will leave them with skills and memories they’ll draw upon the rest of their life.
Inspired by TheNoviceChefBlog.com
Want to show your dog they’re a really good boy (or girl)? Whip up some of these fantastic peanut butter sandwich dog treats! Your pup will be begging for more.
Ingredients
• • • • • •
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup creamy, xylitol-free peanut butter
1 large egg 2 tbsp honey
1/2 cup milk (replace with lactose-free milk for lactose-intolerant pups)
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. 2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, mixing until soft dough forms.
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