How can parents more clearly understand what's behind shifts in motivation so that they may preserve their gifted children's joy and kindle a lifelong love of the arts? A shift takes place when intrinsic motivation gives way to extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is desire kindled within. One who is intrinsically motivated is deeply engaged…

For many children, their artistic gifts may not be apparent until opportunity or exposure provides a spark. That's why parents and caregivers must understand the many ways they can ignite sparks, nurture artistic talents, and provide opportunities for gifted children to explore the arts. In many communities, opportunities outside of school abound.…

There is more to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) education than simply "participating" in the arts. True STEAM means "integrating" the arts into STEM. In recent years, some educators have been reevaluating their STEM curricula and redesigning it to incorporate the arts. Others, such as the Rhode Island…

The arts had a definite place in ancient Greek education and played an important part in children's physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth. Education was based on the development of the whole person. Gymnastics, drawing, music, and poetry were used to increase physical strength, moral character, and a sense of the aesthetic. Music,…

Many parents are in search of ways to best encourage their gifted children in the arts. As arts programs receive less financial and administrative support from the public school systems, parents are seeking additional resources. This article will provide a beginning point for parents to support artistic development for gifted children, based upon…

Parents of gifted children play a powerful role in expanding their world and helping them discover what they love. When gifted children have impassioned, open-minded, and creative family members, they are free to discover what they love and who they are as people. For gifted learners, curiosity, passion, and interest are absolute essentials.…

The author describes a parent art program, how it works, and ways to implement it. She emphasizes the strengths of parent programs as a way to support and enrich existing arts education, not as a replacement. Hansen describes the art kit--the adult's teaching resource--and the basic four-part process: presentation, demonstration, an art activity,…

Children take enormous pride in their drawing abilities. They like bringing to life a specific object whether it is a star or a cat or a tree, and they will likely be frustrated until they can get it just right. Drawing is a way of thinking in motion, the brain guiding the hand, and it demonstrates strongly another type of intelligence. As a…

Understanding and creating art can teach students to work cooperatively and strive to achieve goals. Parents can encourage students' participation in art by supporting community art programs and helping to decide how art will be taught in school. The paper describes how to plan and conduct art education PTA meetings. (SM)

Technological advancements and the "back to basics" movement have resulted in less emphasis on teaching about the fine arts. Arguments against this trend and suggestions for improving arts programs are offered. (DF)

Describes a range of summer programs for gifted or artistically talented students. Resources and guidelines for evaluating, selecting, and applying to such programs are discussed, as are safety concerns. The Pennsylvania Governor's school is also described in brief. (PB)

This reprint of a 1938 article presents a plea for art education by American artist Grant Wood. Wood says that all children need the opportunity to express themselves in drawing and painting in order to be happy. He explains the importance of teaching expression through art rather than teaching art techniques. (SM)

Presents guidelines for parents and teachers on preparing young children (3 to 8 years old) for a visit to the art museum. In preparing children for museum experiences, education for the art museum should be related to child development, begin long before entering a museum ("museum education"), and be sequential. (BB)

In this article, the authors recount their experience designing a program for one of their restructured middle schools that reflects a national movement in middle level reform. Inspired by Howard Garner's (1993) theory of multiple intelligences, the authors, together with a team of teachers, administrators and parents in their small mid-western…