As a part-time educator, I often get to see what is missing in children's lives these days - modelling!
Modelling teaches kids patience. It teaches them tolerance. It also allows them to expand their knowledge and appreciation for art in all it's forms. The skills involved in modelling develops a child's dexterity, their spatial awareness, 3-dimensional cognitive processes, ability to visualise and plan, and most importantly, evolves their problem-solving skills.
Modeling is an artistic process that unleashes ones creativity, imagination, and even their mathematical powers! When I see a child show a keen interest in modeling it brings a happy tear to my eye. Not because I have found a new kindred spirit, but because I see the immense potential in that one child's eyes, and the wonderful life they are destined to live!
Modelling teaches kids patience. It teaches them tolerance. It also allows them to expand their knowledge and appreciation for art in all it's forms. The skills involved in modelling develops a child's dexterity, their spatial awareness, 3-dimensional cognitive processes, ability to visualise and plan, and most importantly, evolves their problem-solving skills.
Modeling is an artistic process that unleashes ones creativity, imagination, and even their mathematical powers! When I see a child show a keen interest in modeling it brings a happy tear to my eye. Not because I have found a new kindred spirit, but because I see the immense potential in that one child's eyes, and the wonderful life they are destined to live!
But modelling is most certainly not only for the children. As adults most of us are quick to learn that not all jobs can be creative, inspiring and exhilarating careers. No matter how much we try to "pour" ourselves into our work, most jobs are laborious and mundane, at best. Hence the need for a hobby. Something constructive, something interesting. An outlet that allows us to be creative and indulge our usually-lost-by-now imagination. While a "job" may allow us to live, a hobby is something to live for.
Speaking from experience, a hobby such as building scale models can offer us an escape, and (sometimes!) serenity. It is a form of meditation, a time for learning, reflecting, and self-improving. Also, like gymnastics, modelling can be considered both "art" and a form of sport, or athletics. For starters it can often elevate the heart rate! But it also nurtures our competitive nature,- makes us compete with ourselves, and sometimes others, it makes us aim higher, become better, and occasionally offers blissful and complete fulfillment!
Don't under-estimate the power of modelling!
Don't under-estimate the power of modelling!