ARTFUL PARENTING
HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR TEEN’S ARTISTIC PASSIONS
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. 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. The Big Leagues
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. 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 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. Stars to Strive For
PATIENT SUCCESS STORY
There’s no greater compliment we can receive than kind words from our patients. We’re always humbled when a patient is willing to share their treatment experience with us and others. Here, in her own words, is how Cindy describes her experience with North County Water and Sports Therapy Center. “I sought the help of physical therapy because I had tendonitis in my right shoulder, and it had been bothering me for a few months. It was keeping me from doing a lot of activities that I really enjoy, like paddleboarding, yoga, and weight training. But it had even started to affect the most basic of actions, like getting things off a shelf, pouring coffee, or putting something in the microwave. “When I came to North County, I started working with Ryann and Jan. Things started off really great, so I naturally thought the problem would be a quick fix. Of course it wasn’t, but to be fair, they were very clear that recovery through physical therapy takes a long time and hard work. HEAR FROM CINDY HADDOW
I had plenty of up days, as well as plenty of down days, but all the way through, both Jan and Ryann remained positive and encouraging. I did all the exercises they assigned and eventually saw improvement, like they promised I would. “Today, I’m back to doing everything I love thanks to physical therapy. What I especially like about North County is that they do everything they can to get the patient back to what they want to do. I will always recommend them to others seeking physical recovery.“ –Cindy Haddow
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