Creative Beginnings by Lindy Solomon, guides teachers and parents through the creative processes of teaching artwork to children. What I liked most about this book is it gives you ideas for projects where children are free to express their own individual creativity. This is opposed to conforming to a standardised project where the outcomes are relatively similar. The author also stresses that it is important for the child to be in control of their project at all times and that the journey and experience a child has whilst creating her artwork is more important than the end result.

I tried out some of the projects with my children and was delighted to discover how therapeutic the creative process is. I can see why many psychologists use artwork in therapy. Some of the projects outlined in this book are creating a mandala, telling a story through a collage and making puppets and masks from waste materials.

The author outlines tips on setting up an open art area as well as collecting and storing art materials. I like the fact that the majority of the art materials she recommends are inexpensive and she gives lots of ideas on collecting materials from nature and waste.

Parents and teachers will not only find this book useful for teaching children, but will even enjoy working on developing their own creativity whilst working on the projects themselves. As the author says, "Children can teach adults who do not consider themselves artists how to rediscover their creativity."

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