Share your children’s artwork with the T&A

Some of us will be trying our best to stick to healthy New Year resolutions. A few of us will have more ambitious dreams of maybe furthering our careers, writing that book we always meant to do, seeking out the person of our dreams or performing on stage in front of an audience of thousands.

I don`t make resolutions as such as I know they will be broken by February and then I will feel bad and upset with myself. However, I constantly have goals. These are usually achievements I have already reached before, so it’s a bit of a cheat, but al least I never feel a complete failure.

As teachers, parents, or adults in general, we are constantly setting goals for children whether it’s via set homework, new facts to learn or basic life skills. Can you imagine going through years of taking in new knowledge five days a week? I know, I know, we have all been there and accepted it as given.

Let`s consider how we would change our lives to make us happy content humans. We have to work and earn to survive but there must be a work/play balance.

Let’s face it, a lot of our daily and weekly timetables are governed for convenience. How easy to stick the kids on their tablets or in front of the TV whilst we prep dinner and grab a glass of wine (alcohol free of course) after a hard day’s work.

With mental health issues constantly reminding us how short and fragile life is, I am always reminding my students to enjoy life and that learning can be fun. I also encourage them to allow their creativity to grow, providing relaxing free time away from a screen.

Painting and other creative outlets are not only excellent calming therapies but provide valuable brain exercises.

My mother suffered from dementia, so I am constantly checking how my brain is coping day to day. I admit if I forget a word or struggle to remember someone’s name I get into a spiral of panic. This of course makes things worse.

I am doing everything possible to avoid that dreadful illness that took my mother. I eat my blueberries every day to help my memory. I write newspaper articles, I still tutor art, do my own artwork and have just finished my sixth novel.

This is not me showing off. This is me stressing how important it is to do everything possible to stay compos mentis for as long as you are able.

A beautiful landscape by Nusaybah, agd seven

Please help me protect our children’s and young people’s mental health and steer them towards a stress-free adulthood. Encourage them to express their feelings through art whether in a painting, a sculpture etc. A collaborative family piece too is always a winner on a rainy, cold or snowy afternoon.

A striking collage by Parivarshini, aged nine

Please send children’s and young people’s artwork to my email for lots of showcasing opportunities, together with their name, age (four to 18) a brief description and location. Email me at purplegrandma48@gmail.com

* Lynne Dobson is a Bradford artist and art teacher.