Introducing Your Child to the Arts: Folk Art

"Art, especially the traditional arts, continually demonstrate the vital principle that sameness and differences always go together. A Texan and a Missouri fiddler may play the same tune, but they will not sound the same."

- Bess Lomax Hawes, folklorist

Art is an important part of everyday life. It is not only the work of well-known artists in renowned art museums, but it is also the art of distinctive societies and subcultures. This is folk art—art that develops its styles, techniques, and subject matters within the culture and history of a social group.

Many things, some biological and some historical, define who we are—gender, age, ethnicity, region, religion, language, or occupation. Thousands of artistic expressions come out of our collective American cultural roots in the form of rituals, objects, celebrations, dance,music, and stories passed on from elder to child, from artist to apprentice, and from neighbor to neighbor. Some traditions are as ancient as storytelling, others as new as jump-rope rhymes and poetry slams. Folk art represents the traditions and practices of closely connected groups, preserving cultural and community identity through artistic expressions such as music, dance, art, and craft.

Folk arts enrich our lives by:

• fostering a sense of group belonging;
• giving us similar experiences as a basis for meaningful communication;
• helping us reflect on basic life questions and concerns;
• making life interesting by creating beauty and fun in unexpected places; and
• upholding creativity as an important value, often by utilizing existing (sometimes taken for granted) resources in unique ways.

Children comprehend their world and the cultural significance of events by witnessing and participating in celebrations and ceremonies, creating objects, singing, dancing, and sharing stories with family and community. In this way, children learn from these practices, develop self-awareness, and form relationships with others. As parents and teachers, we can help our children explore connections between their own life experiences and artistic expressions. We can also help them observe and respect their own cultural traditions and those of other people.

Engaging Young Children in the Folk Arts

Folk arts are commonly practiced by most children in everyday life through neighborhood games, songs, and rhymes repeated in play, as well as in celebrations that represent family traditions. For children, it is likely that the term “folk arts” is unfamiliar, even though the practices may be well known. Children develop a personal repertoire in the arena of folk arts through interactions with family members, classmates, and friends. It is often through games that oral traditions are communicated by young people, such as:

• Sidewalk chalk drawings and finger paintings
• Songs that imitate
• Forts and dollhouses
• Puppetry, dress-up, and magic shows
• Fortunetelling games made from folded paper and costume making
• Clapping games, cheers, jump rope, and bicycle tricks

Talking with your children about games is a way to begin exploring folk arts with them. Ask your children about the games they play and what makes certain games “special.” Teach your preschooler a game that you used to play and talk about your enjoyment of it. Read Bein’ with You This Way by W.Nikola-Lisa and act out the chants. For the preschooler, it is important to share simple finger plays, sing songs, and repeat rhymes that you remember from your own childhood.