We've all heard talk of left brain and right brain thinkers and even activities that are geared toward one or the other, but what is left brain thinking and right brain thinking and how can knowing about it help you teach your child better? We all use both the left and  right hemispheres of our brains, but most of us have a dominant side and that affects how we approach certain tasks, how we process information, and how we choose to communicate our ideas.

The left side of the brain processes information from the parts and works to the whole. Left-brain dominant people tend to be more analytical, logical, mathematically inclined, and detail oriented.

The right side of the brain processes information from the whole and then works on the parts. They start with the answer, or the big picture and then fill in the details. Right-brain dominant people tend to be more visual, intuitive, imaginative, and spatially oriented.

The child who is left-brain dominant will want to follow the steps that lead to the finished product. That method lends itself to a "copy the instructor" approach in art and can be less creative since the young artist is drawing information from another rather than processing it through his own thinking.

The child who is right-brain dominant gets bored with step by step methods, coloring books, or any approach that does not allow him to do his own thing in his own way. These children crave solid, focused information because that helps them see the big picture, or what the task or goal is. Make sure that the information you give them is not watered down. They need details in order to visualize the concept. Use library books on the topic for additional information. Once they understand the concept and the tools they have to work with, they are ready to use their visual gifts, be intuitive or creative, and to make something that, in the end, is uniquely their own.  Original art requires that one have an idea of the picture before he starts, but not a complete idea, or the ability to visualize the finished picture.  He must use a process in which the character traits Frank Goble describes in the quote of the month are used. Being "flexible, changing as the situation changes, and facing indecision" are right-brain traits put into play as the picture is being developed.

Consider editing tedious tasks for the right-brain dominant child. Of course handwriting and math skills booklets still need to be filled, but many other studies can take a more whole-picture approach. A whole-picture approach will not only involve lots of information but will involve connection in the real world and allow the child time to explore in various ways with the topics at hand. One should expect a lot of trial and error as a part of the learning experience. Art should especially be a subject that allows trial and error, although the errors need not be pointed out unless the child asks for the input. Right brain teaching requires flexibility in scheduling time. A child should be allowed to finish his explorations to his satisfaction most of the time. Time pressure inhibits freedom to explore. Most young children can finish a work of art within an hour. Older children who have learned to put more into their pictures can spend much more time on a work. Most school texts are taught in a left-brain dominant way. You can help your right-brain dominant child enjoy school more by offering subjects like art that allow him to use the approach to tasks that he is most comfortable with.

Artistic Pursuits is designed for the right-brain dominant child or one who wishes to develop that side through a more personal, creative  approach. The child who is more left-brain dominant will simply desire a little more guidance in the step by step area and can be given some instruction or more examples in the area being taught. Meanwhile, an assignment which has the child take a nature walk and then asks her to draw a picture of what she observed is exactly the type of thing that will excite the right-brain dominant child. She's been given the big picture, the goal, and now she is set free to approach that task in what ever direction her own mind takes her.