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Loz Antonenko is an integrative health coach, award-winning personal trainer, author of ‘Get The F*ck Unstuck!’ and the creator behind The Mojo Method. Known for her bold style, high energy and “edutainer” approach, she helps busy and neurodivergent humans rebuild their confidence, health and identity through simple daily habits. Loz blends habit science, creativity and lived experience to make well-being practical and fun. When she is not coaching, she is performing, speaking on stages or creating content that inspires people to stop shrinking and start showing up as their fullest selves. Learn more about her work here. Tune into Loz’s message here.
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 Credit: Style My Soul, www.stylemysoul.com | Year 1 Lessons Learned; Entrepreneurship The first year of entrepreneurship brings hard-won lessons that separate successful ventures from failed attempts. Here are crucial insights shared by experienced entrepreneurs who have weathered the challenges of launching and growing a business.
Clarity Comes from Motion, Not Overthinking Year 1 of entrepreneurship felt like being shoved onto a moving treadmill and deciding, mid-sprint, that I was going to learn how to dance on it. I didn’t start my business with a trust fund or a six-month runway — I started it after losing a corporate job. That first year taught me that entrepreneurship is less about having the “perfect brand” and more about being useful fast and being braver than is comfortable on a daily basis. I said yes before I felt ready, sent invoices that made my palms sweat, and had calls where I was absolutely winging it on the inside while sounding calm on the outside. I learned to manage expectations, set boundaries, and communicate clearly — skills that would later become the backbone of my agency. What I loved was the creative freedom and the surreal feeling of watching something that only existed in my head — a service, a message, a client result — suddenly exist in the world. What I didn’t love was the emotional whiplash, the financial uncertainty, and the loneliness of building something most people in my life didn’t fully understand. One day I felt unstoppable; the next, I was convinced I’d ruined my life. But the biggest lesson from that first year was simple: clarity comes from motion, not from overthinking. I didn’t find my passion by waiting for the perfect idea — I found it by doing the work in front of me, paying attention to what lit me up (and what drained me), and being willing to evolve. Year 1 wasn’t glamorous, but it was the year I stopped outsourcing my future, and that changed everything. - Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Founder and Creative Director, Marquet Media Prove You Can Run a Business Year 1 was the year I proved to myself that I could actually run a business. Before that, I worked retail and lived on someone else’s schedule. Starting my own company forced me to take ownership of every hour and every outcome, and that shift changed everything. The biggest thing I learned that first year was what truly makes a service business work. Being on time mattered more than anything, and I had to learn the rhythms of traffic, weather, neighborhoods, and customer expectations firsthand. Communication became my edge. Talking to parents, understanding what they needed, and guiding them toward the right choices helped us stand out. Year 1 taught me the craft of the work. You cannot learn that by hiring people to do it for you. You learn it by showing up, delivering the service, and noticing the small details customers react to. What I loved most was the joy it created. Watching a kid’s face light up as their backyard became the highlight of their day made every long shift worth it. Seeing parents relax because the event was turning out exactly how they hoped showed me the real impact we were making. What I did not love were the growing pains. Year 1 forces you to learn from disappointing people because it is unavoidable in a small business. Employees who do not show up, vendors who fail you, plans that fall apart. You experience it once, and you try like hell to never repeat it. Those moments are uncomfortable, but they shape you as a founder more than the wins do. Year 1 taught me that entrepreneurship is equal parts skill and resilience. You learn what your customers value, what you are capable of, and what you refuse to tolerate. It was hard, exhausting, and easily one of the most transformative years of my life. - Robert De Los Santos, CEO, Sky High Party Rentals Trust Your Team to Lead and Grow Starting Made Man Barbershop felt like stepping into a new style every day. It was exciting, challenging, and at times unpredictable. In that first year, I learned patience, resilience, and how much attention to detail matters. Creating a space where people feel confident and welcome isn’t just about perfecting a fade or a beard trim. Every interaction, every corner of the shop, and every little process, from booking appointments to keeping tools in order, affects the experience. Balancing the creative side of barbering with the responsibilities of running a business pushed me in ways I hadn’t expected. What I loved most was seeing the community we were building. Watching regular clients trust us with their hair, catching up with them, and seeing them leave with a smile made all the long hours worth it. The part I didn’t enjoy as much was the administrative details, like scheduling, payroll, and inventory. Those things aren’t glamorous, but they’re necessary, and dealing with them taught me discipline and how to stay organized without losing focus on our clients. One of the biggest lessons was learning to trust my team. Made Man Barbershop isn’t a one-person show, and giving others space to lead and grow made the shop stronger and helped me grow as a leader. Every haircut, shave, and conversation became a step toward something lasting. Year one showed me that entrepreneurship isn’t about avoiding mistakes, it’s about learning from them and using them to get better. At Made Man, that mindset shapes how we work, how we care for our clients, and the experience we give every single day. - Daniel Chulpayev, Co-Owner, Made Man Barbershop Patience Matters in Hospitality Hiring Platforms During my first year, I became very aware that developing a hiring platform for restaurants and hotels is mostly about patience. Owners would like quick results, but they also need a partner who listens. I learned that making consistent progress — fixing slow response times or improving match rates — was more meaningful than any large feature release. What I enjoyed most was seeing small places win. One family-owned cafe in Miami filled important roles in four days, after weeks of looking for help. It was impactful moments like that that showed we can solve hiring problems in hospitality and infectiously energized me to improve the platform. What I enjoyed the least was the pressure of doing everything in one day. I was taking product calls, customer support for users, and taking sales calls all in the same day. It forced me to begin creating clearer working hours and protecting my evenings to help create boundaries. I didn’t realize how hard being “at work” was, and that boundary helped me stay focused and in turn, be a better partner to the restaurants we support. - Milos Eric, Co-Founder, OysterLink Corporate Culture Dictates Early Growth One of the most difficult aspects of being in the early days (years) of entrepreneurship is working with employees. They dictate corporate culture. I learned that having even one person who can disrupt a good corporate culture can permeate throughout a small company and have strong negative effects. Working with employees as a de facto therapist was not one of the hats I had expected to wear, and it often felt like it was taking away time from growing the brand, sales, marketing, operations, etc. But, over time, as the company has grown and I have less direct interaction with each person, I’ve come to learn that by developing and supporting that positive corporate culture, it helps to create a “system” that you can rely upon that ends up supporting growth by having a strong core to feed the sales into that system. - Paul Shrater, Founder — Ecommerce / 3PL / Manufacturing / Marketing, PaulShrater.com Cultivate Trust to Defend Privacy Year One as an entrepreneur was absolutely eye-opening for me. I learned that building Mailfence wasn’t just about writing code or designing a great product; it was about cultivating trust. We weren’t just launching another email service; we were offering a private, encrypted alternative that people could rely on for their most sensitive communications. That responsibility weighed on me deeply, but it also kept me laser-focused. What I loved was the freedom of building something that truly aligned with my values. As someone who has always believed fervently in encryption and privacy, to create a company that embodies that belief, and to see others embrace it, was deeply rewarding. On the flip side, I sometimes underestimated how long it takes to earn trust. In those first months, explaining OpenPGP, managing key servers, and reiterating our commitment to “no backdoors” was hard work. Another lesson: persistence matters more than brilliance. There were days when growth was slow, when friction with users over usability made me question our direction. But each small improvement, each user who switched to us because they cared about privacy, that was motivating. Overall, Year One wasn’t glamorous. It was long hours, uphill battles, and constant trade-offs. But every challenge reinforced why I founded Mailfence: to defend privacy in a world that often gives it away too cheaply. - Patrick De Schutter, Co-Founder, Mailfence Listen to Your Real Target Audience The first year of my real entrepreneurial journey actually started after a failure. My first “business” was not even a legitimate company, and it collapsed very fast. I had no structure, no legal setup, no idea what I was doing. The real lesson started when I opened my first official business: an adult store called Cleopatra. That first year, with Cleopatra, was when I really realized how little I knew about my real target audience. I had one idea in my head of who my customers would be, and the people who actually came into the store were very different. That year, I listened and asked questions, testing different ways to reach them — both online and offline. That is how I learned what works for my niche, not just what looks good on paper. I also came to realize that being cheap on crucial issues such as the website, branding, and overall look and feel cannot be afforded. Every time I tried to save on something critical, it came back as a much higher cost later on in lost trust, low conversions, or rework. What I loved about that first year was the speed at which I was learning. What I did not like was how painful some of those lessons were. But without them, I would not have the businesses I run today. - Borislav Donchev, Digital Entrepreneur & CEO, MAX Digital Maintain High Standards Before You Expand During our first year, I dedicated most of my time to understanding our customers, developing service operations, and building local trust. We intentionally avoided any attempts to expand during that period. What we learned was that maintaining high-quality standards brings far more value than rushing to grow. When homeowners trust our services, they naturally become our best promoters by referring others, which drives sustainable growth. What brought me the most satisfaction was the direct contact with customers. Hearing positive feedback from families about the quality of our work helped me better understand our mission with each passing day. On the flip side, dealing with vendor delays and permit issues was challenging — mainly because it forced us to improve our communication methods far more than I had anticipated. In your first year, it’s essential to stay closely connected to every part of your operations. The success really lies in managing all the small elements — like tool inventory and script training programs — which collectively contribute to long-term achievement. Building your team should happen through personally recruiting skilled professionals. There are no shortcuts here. - Dimitar Dechev, CEO, Super Brothers Plumbing Heating & Air Learn Through Direct Client Work My first year building Lower Street was a crash course in doing things badly before I learned to do them well. I came from the audio world, but running an actual business was a whole other skill set. I was in every department: sales, marketing, production, and client relations. What I loved most was working directly with my clients. Every project in year one felt personal. I worked with founders and marketing teams on their business stories. I felt the same kind of satisfaction when I saw how happy my clients were when an episode really connected with our audience. Thanks to this experience, the “quality first” brand strategy was born and remains a top priority. My biggest struggle was constantly having to prove myself. There’s nowhere to hide when you’re a small business. One missed deadline or poor production can affect your reputation for months. But it also forced me to tighten our systems, hire the right employees, and have the right structures in place. - Harry Morton, Founder, Lower Street Develop Scalable Systems for Quality The greatest takeaway from Year 1 has been the requirement to develop scalable systems that will promote traceable quality within the healthcare administration system. In the world of healthcare administration, time cannot be traded for the sake of improving quality; therefore, Year 1 was heavily focused on creating redundancy in the long term for every system created. It has been incredibly gratifying to receive the direct and immediate feedback regarding how we were able to enhance the clinical quality of care provided and create a welcoming environment for our clients, especially considering the positive feedback validated our reasons for launching Alpas. The biggest challenge I faced was attempting to change very well-entrenched practices throughout many layers of the healthcare industry; the process of developing an effective, efficient operation is extremely lengthy due to myriad layers of regulatory navigational challenges. - Sean Smith, Founder & CEO, Alpas Wellness Progress Rarely Moves Smoothly Forward In my first year as an entrepreneur, I loved the freedom and the thrill of building something from scratch, but I was not ready for the constant problem-solving. One month, I felt like a genius; the next month I wondered if I had made the biggest mistake of my life. The biggest lesson I learned was that progress is rarely smooth. Some weeks, you feel like nothing is working, then one small win suddenly changes your direction. What I loved most was the sense of ownership. Every success, even the small ones, felt earned. What I did not enjoy was the loneliness that comes with being the one responsible for every decision. Over time, I learned to ask for help, talk to mentors, and build a small support group. Year one taught me patience, resilience, and the value of celebrating small victories. - Nir Appelton, CEO, The CEO Creative Authentic Networks Generate Trust and Outreach Year 1 taught me an important lesson about the value of authentic networks and the trust they generate versus the need for large marketing budgets to effectively generate outreach. As a result of limited resources, reputation and personal commitment are often the only two assets possible to possess in order to obtain outreach. I was captivated by the immediate feedback I received from our community regarding how seamlessly our mission was being fulfilled through the development of the program into an effective solution for people. The most frustrating and overwhelming component of the initial year was managing all operational aspects of the business; as such, I spent little time on direct outreach and business development, which were two significant reasons why I was so committed to pushing forward toward our mission. - Ryan Hetrick, Co-founder of Epiphany Wellness, Epiphany Wellness Build Solid Partnerships for Success My first year as an entrepreneur was a whirlwind of challenges and growth. I learned pretty quickly how important it is to be flexible and have a clear vision for where you’re headed. Building Trading FXVPS from scratch showed me that solid partnerships are everything for long-term success. What I really loved was seeing our strategies actually help our clients succeed. It was incredibly rewarding to understand what they needed and build solutions just for them. Of course, trying to scale quickly while keeping things running smoothly was a constant struggle. That first year taught me that you need a good plan, but you also have to be willing to roll up your sleeves and get things done. - Ace Zhuo, CEO | Sales and Marketing, Tech & Finance Expert, TradingFXVPS Uncertainty Becomes Part of Entrepreneurship The first year of entrepreneurship is like being thrown into an ocean and finding yourself swimming and drowning simultaneously. The biggest thing I learned during this first year is that uncertainty is not a problem in entrepreneurship but is actually part and parcel of entrepreneurship. The moment I stopped expecting to feel safe, I became much more proactive. The best part is being able to build something exactly how you envision it should look; it is a very liberating experience. The part that is less liked is having to live with every choice you make in your own mind. This is what helps you sharpen yourself. - Matthew Johnston, Owner, Bug Shockers Action Beats Perfection Every Time I realized that action beats perfection. We spent 8 months perfecting the design we wanted for our water pitcher, but in the end we realized had we launched 6 months earlier with a “good enough” version rather than trying to perfect our design, we could have gotten more sales and more revenue in the meantime and could have made minor updates along the way. Now I have decided to follow a simple rule: ship first, refine continuously. - Samrudha Salvi, Founder, duryn Resilience Matters More Than Perfection My first year as an entrepreneur was thrilling, draining, and jam-packed with hard-learned lessons. I quickly discovered that resilience is more important than perfection; errors are opportunities to grow rather than failures. What I loved most was the ability to implement ideas and observe their effects firsthand, but I found it challenging to deal with the uncertainty because there was no clear plan, making every decision feel high stakes. I wouldn’t change anything about it, though, because that first year shaped how I handle opportunities and challenges now. - Jared Weitz, Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Source  Credit: Credit: Alana Grace, https://www.alanagrace.com.au/ It’s no secret, I’m a self-confessed flow-state junkie. Sitting around and chatting about nothing isn’t really my thing, and honestly, it’s not something the people closest to me enjoy either. I naturally gravitate toward people who tap into flow too. It’s inspiring, and I love the feeling of being in it. I believe it comes naturally to some of us, and there’s something timeless about it. Over time, I’ve learnt that I need this space to find freedom and ease, away from the noise and overthinking. This message is for those curious about what a flow state is and how it might help them tap into something more meaningful in their day.
Flow is effortless. At first, doing something you love might feel like a task, but once you’re in the state, it feels natural. As Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology, notes: in flow, we’re present, not thinking, just being. Greater engagement leads to more meaning, better relationships, and better versions of ourselves.[1] There’s a certain joy and lightness that arises when we tap into flow. It can be cathartic and emotional, going from feeling flat to alive, excited, and active. When we pour our fears, anxieties, and challenges into something we love, whether it’s art or any passion, they often dissolve. But that transformation takes time and a gentle approach. You can’t force flow; it needs space to breathe and unfold. The Flow State: A Path to Resilience and Inner Strength What is the flow state? It’s when time disappears and you’re completely absorbed in what you’re doing. It’s a state of deep immersion, where you feel in perfect sync with yourself. According to Seligman, authentic happiness consists of three elements: positive emotion, engagement, and meaning. Flow sits under engagement — where we’re so absorbed in an activity that it feels effortless.[1] For me, flow is more than a psychological concept; it’s deeply personal. It’s about being so connected to something that everything else fades away. Whether I’m writing, surfing, practising yoga, or simply being present, flow feels pure and clear. It’s where I find my strength. Resilience isn’t just about effort, it’s about tapping into something deeper within us. Flow helps us do that. In those moments of engagement, we recognise our strengths, gifts, and direction, qualities that guide us towards resilience. What Psychology Says About Flow Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the psychologist who coined the term flow, defines it as the sweet spot where skill meets challenge.[2] When we’re in flow, we feel unstoppable. But beyond the scientific explanation, flow is an art. It’s a personal experience that connects us to life. It allows us to escape the mundane, pressing tasks and enter a state where time expands and our anxieties fade away. Finding Your Own Flow State We all have that inner strength. It’s not about striving, it’s about reconnecting. Reflecting on what works in your life, rather than what’s broken, can lead you to flow. What makes you feel alive, present, or engaged? That’s your entry point. In positive psychology and strengths-based therapies, instead of treating symptoms, we build on what’s already in balance. Focus on what brings you joy and energy — that’s where you’ll find your flow. Resilience and Flow: Tapping Into Your Inner Power Resilience is more than just overcoming hardship, it’s about recognising the strength we already possess. Flow helps us tap into that strength. According to The Flow Genome Project, flow optimises performance under stress by triggering a neurochemical cocktail that enhances our abilities.[3] When we’re in flow, we’re not just managing stress and anxiety, we’re thriving in it. We’re able to draw on those emotions and channel them into something. Flow helps us unlock our potential, discover our strengths, and build psychological fitness. It leads us towards peace and well-being. How to Tap Back into Flow (or Find It in the First Place) The flow state isn’t something to be learnt; it’s something to allow. You can’t force it, but you can create the conditions for it to arise. Here’s something I’ve learned: flow isn’t just about being energised and engaged. It’s also about embracing moments of vulnerability and fear. These emotional states can sometimes be the entry point to flow. It’s in those tender moments — when fear or uncertainty arises — that we’re often invited to pause and ground ourselves. Flow isn’t always about being constantly “on.” Sometimes it’s about being with ourselves. In moments of fear or discomfort, we can make small, mindful choices to return to stillness. And that stillness — no matter how small or uncomfortable it feels — can often lead us into flow. It aligns the body and mind, creating a space of peace that allows us to settle into the moment. By leaning into these moments of vulnerability, we might just find flow where we least expect it. Here are a few gentle ways to re-enter flow: 1. Reflect on What’s Working: Identify what makes you feel alive and engaged. This could be anything — reading, cooking, or walking in nature. 2. Slow Down: Life often rushes by, but slowing down helps us tap into the present moment, where flow naturally thrives. — Start Small: You don’t need grand moments to find flow. Begin with simple activities that bring you joy. 3. Trust Your Process: Flow states don’t always happen overnight. Sometimes, when we’re burnt out or really stressed, it takes time. Part of the process is exploration — allowing ourselves the freedom to wander and be curious. Trust your body and mind, and honour your natural rhythm. At the end of the day, flow states are reminders that we have everything we need within us. It’s a powerful tool for resilience, joy, and personal growth. Once you experience being in a flow state, you’ll crave it, just as your body craves nourishing food. When we access flow, we reconnect with our true selves, realising we are creators, healers, and sources of light. So, how can you tap into flow today? Start by focusing on what’s already working in your life. Slow down enough to listen to your inner self, and allow yourself to tap into something beyond the ordinary. References: [1] Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. Free Press. [2] Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper & Row. [3] The Flow Genome Project. (n.d.). Flow Genome Project. https://www.flowgenomeproject.com Meet Our Contributor — Alana Grace Alana Grace is a registered counsellor based on the Sunshine Coast, offering both in-person and online sessions. With nearly a decade of experience in yoga, Ayurveda, and self-inquiry, she integrates trauma-informed, person-centred, narrative, and compassion-focused therapies to support individuals navigating anxiety, self-doubt, and emotional overwhelm. Alana is passionate about helping others reconnect with their inner wisdom and cultivate deep self-trust. You can find more of her writing and her services here or on Instagram.  Credit: Tricia Sybersma - Founder of HeartWorks Meet Our Guest! Tricia Sybersma is the founder of HeartWorks, a unique art-wellness platform where horses, a dog, and a cat create original paintings that blend animal artistry with heart-led practices. Tricia helps people reconnect with presence, intuition, and emotional clarity. As a HeartMath Certified Trainer, she integrates simple, heart-based tools into daily life and creative expression. HeartWorks wearable and interior artworks act as touchpoints that bring calm, meaning, and connection into everyday spaces. Through HeartWorks, Tricia invites others to live more from the heart and experience the healing intelligence of animals and art. Listen to Tricia speak here.  Credit: Style My Soul, StyleMySoul.com | Podcast  Credit: Style My Soul, www.stylemysoul.com | Introduction to the Arts Introducing children to the arts doesn’t require expensive classes or formal training — it starts with simple, creative habits at home. Shared are practical strategies backed by insights from educators and artists who work with young learners every day. From building a family gallery wall to connecting kids directly with local creators, these approaches make art accessible and exciting for children of all ages.
Let Them Stumble Into Art Naturally The best way I have found to introduce kids to the arts is to let them stumble into it without telling them they are learning something important. When my nephew was little, I once gave him a blank notebook and a box of cheap crayons while we waited for food at a small cafe. I expected him to draw a sun and a stick figure. Instead, he asked if he could draw the people around us. What came out looked nothing like them, but he was so proud. The waitress kept the sketch and taped it behind the counter. He talked about that moment for weeks. Kids do not need lectures about art. They need an experience that makes them feel seen. A small spark is enough. Once they feel that joy of creating or noticing something beautiful, they come back to it on their own. - Nir Appelton, CEO, Adorb Custom Tees Start a Home Gallery Wall Ritual The fastest way I’ve seen kids appreciate the arts is to let them create something. When my oldest was four, we started a “gallery wall” at home. It was just a bit of space in the hallway where their drawings, crafts, and school projects went up every week. The moment their artwork had a real place in the house, it changed how they treated the activity. They weren’t just coloring. They were contributing to something the whole family interacted with every day. As a parent who spends a lot of time helping families find practical ideas, I’ve noticed that kids respond well to small rituals. The gallery wall turned into a weekly routine. They picked their favorite piece, we swapped old items out, and they felt proud of what they made. It built appreciation in a way that didn’t require a big budget or structured lessons. Another thing that helped was tying arts and culture to outings we were already doing. If we were walking through a farmers’ market, I’d point out local artists and let the kids choose a small print for their room. They connected the art they saw outside with the art they made at home. It made the experience real and fun. Parents don’t need elaborate plans. Give kids a space to showcase what they make and find chances to show them art in everyday settings. Those small habits build appreciation without forcing it. - Cory Arsic, Founder, Canadian Parent Give Them Notebooks at Art Festivals I took my six-year-old niece to a street art festival where she experienced her first art event. I gave her a small notebook and told her to pick three favorite artworks, which she would then recreate through her own drawings. The instant connection happened when I saw her focus on a giant hummingbird mural before starting to draw it with her pink marker. The experience let her participate in creating art, rather than just being told what it means. Since that day, I’ve made it a mission to help children build creativity before expecting them to appreciate art. Kids develop their artistic appreciation through hands-on creative experiences, not through academic study. A genuine love for art often comes from the act of making it. - Damien Zouaoui, Co-Founder, Oakwell Beer Spa Let Them Create Before They Critique One creative way I like to introduce kids to appreciating the arts is by letting them create before they critique. When you ask a child to draw, paint, or build something first — without rules or pressure — they suddenly become curious about how other people make things too. I’ve seen this firsthand with my niece. She used to rush through museum visits, but once she started making her own little “art shows” at home with crayons and cardboard, she began pointing out brush strokes, colors, and shapes in real artwork. The act of creating gave her a personal connection to what she was seeing. I’ve also found that bringing art into their world — rather than bringing them into the art world — helps spark natural interest. When I used to run after-school workshops, I’d take everyday things kids already loved, like music videos, cartoons, or street murals, and break down the creative decisions behind them. Once students realized that the animation in their favorite show uses the same principles as paintings and sculptures, they became much more invested. Kids appreciate the arts when they see it as something they’re already part of, not something far away or formal. - Brandon Leibowitz, Owner, SEO Optimizers Pair Classical Music With Watercolor Sessions My mother used to play classical music during our watercolor painting sessions at the kitchen table when I was young. The musical notes of Vivaldi and impressionist art remained unknown to me, but I experienced a deep connection to them. The blues transitioned into greens while the violin notes caused my hand to perform unusual movements. The experience required no explanation because it spoke directly to my senses. That’s the magic. Let them touch color. Let them move to music. People should experience culture through their sense of touch instead of studying it as an academic subject. Children who experience beauty as a natural part of life will maintain their gentle nature and curious spirit throughout their lives. - Julia Pukhalskaia, CEO, Mermaid Way Connect Kids With Local Artists Directly What really clicked for us was getting kids into small groups with local artists. I saw a shy student open up just by painting next to a muralist. When they could touch the clay and talk to the sculptor, art wasn’t some distant idea anymore. It was right there. Those hands-on sessions were so popular we turned them into a core program. - Selene Luk, Customer Care manager, Spanish Cultural Association of Hong Kong Make Art Part of Daily Routines Children at an early age tend to relate to the arts when they realize that it is part of the program of ordinary days and not an independent activity. By placing a small sketchpad beside the kitchen table or a basic percussion instrument in a corner of a living room, art can be used as a regular aspect of their movement throughout the home. Children have a feeling for when there is something that has been incorporated into their surroundings and they are likely to revisit it easily. The familiarity of the routine exposure is not pressurized and the artistic habit is developed almost silently. The second step, that has proven to be successful, is to ask them to mimic the things they already hear or see on a daily basis. When a child observes how a caregiver is folding laundry, he can attempt to repeat the movement with a paintbrush. A child who listens to a vacuum hum can make an attempt to beat that rhythm on a small drum. The arts begin to seem a continuation of their own observations and this appreciation is much stronger than formal lessons. - Stephen Huber, President and Founder, Home Care Providers |