"What does "HOME" mean to a child?

What is this project about?

This is an art project about children and how they visualize the concept of "HOME." Simply, if they were to draw a picture or create a collage about "HOME", what would it look like?

What are the art projects guidelines?

• Any children up to age 18 years of age can participate.

• Any children from any country can participate.

• Children should answer the following question in picture format: "What does "HOME" mean to you?" 

• Children should draw a picture using any medium, such as chalk, paint, pencils, crayon, or ink etc. and/or make a collage with any medium to express their answer.

• Take a photo of the picture (natural lighting is best to avoid glare and flash mark) or scan a copy of the finished picture, save and label with child's name, age and country and attach in an email to: laura.childdevelopmentclub@gmail.com with ART PROJECT written in the subject.

• Children can also include a quote in their email about what "HOME" means to them.  Quotes can be in any language, but please add English in parenthesis.

• Pictures and quotes will be added to this blog, as well as, posted on the CHILD DEVELOPMENT CLUB website in the PHOTO GALLERY.

• By participating in this project, all participants allow The Child Development Club to use the pictures in any format and in any form of public media.            

How can you, as a parent or educator, support the project?

• The concept of "HOME" is a great topic to discuss in school with the whole class. There are many ways to expand on this topic, such as talking about family structure, friendship, ethnicity and the environment.

• Encourage expanding on ideas without telling the child what to draw. It is the child's vision and not the adults vision.

• Visit the blog, look at the pictures with the children and get their impressions of other children's pictures from different countries. Discuss with the children the similarities and differences between the pictures.

Why did I start this project?

I was born and raised in New York, USA and always enjoyed traveling abroad. Eight years ago I married and moved to Cairo, Egypt. For the first six years I lived in Cairo and visited New York frequently. Almost two years ago, I moved back to New York as I was blessed with a baby girl and wanted to be near my family. Since then, I have traveled frequently between both countries. My concept of "HOME" is forever changing. Sometimes when I refer to "HOME", I may mean New York, Cairo, my apartment, or where my family and friends are...it is never a constant. 

With the recent events in Egypt, I am once again reflecting on this topic. I think back to my husband's documentary film The Place I Call Home and wonder how Egyptians would now answer the many questions discussed in the film in regards to belonging and that sense of home.

With my interest in art, traveling, blogging, child development and this topic of "HOME", I thought I would combine all into one project!

So, I thank you in advance for your contributions to this project and look forward to all the amazing pictures from children in countries worldwide. 

Please share this project with your friends, family and colleagues.

Laura Efinger

(laura.childdevelopmentclub@gmail.com)


To learn more about me, read my profile on the Child Development Club website.