Arts and Internal Locus: Creating for Expression

BY NICOLE LAU

Childhood Internal Locus Building: Ages 0-12

Art - whether visual art, music, dance, writing, or any creative form - can build internal locus or destroy it. When children create for expression - to communicate their inner world, explore ideas, experience joy in creating - they develop authentic voice, intrinsic motivation, and internal locus. When they create for external validation - good grades, competitions, parental approval, being "talented" - they develop external locus, performance anxiety, and lost authenticity. Let your child create for the joy of expression, not for approval.

Why Creating for Approval Creates External Locus

Lost Authentic Voice: "I create what others want to see, not what I want to express." This is external locus.

Performance Anxiety: "My art must be good enough for approval." Fear replaces joy.

Comparison: "My art isn't as good as theirs." External locus through comparison.

Conditional Worth: "I'm only valuable if my art is good." Worth depends on artistic performance.

How to Foster Creating for Expression

1. Celebrate the Creating, Not Just the Product

What to Say:

- "You were so focused while creating"

- "You really enjoyed that"

- "I love watching you create"

- "You expressed something important"

Not: Only praising "good" art or finished products

Why: Process focus keeps motivation internal. Product focus makes it external.

2. Avoid Evaluative Praise

Instead of: "That's beautiful!" or "Good job!"

Say: "Tell me about this" or "You used so many colors" or "What was your favorite part?"

Why: Descriptive feedback builds internal evaluation. Evaluative praise creates dependency on external approval.

3. Honor Their Vision

What to Do:

- Don't "fix" their art

- Don't show them the "right" way

- Don't compare to realistic standards

- Let them create their way

Say: "This is your creation. You decide how it looks."

Why: Honoring their vision builds authentic voice and internal locus.

4. Provide Materials and Freedom

What to Offer:

- Variety of art materials

- Time to create

- Space to make mess

- Freedom to explore

Don't: Control what they make, how they make it, or judge the result

Why: Freedom and materials support intrinsic motivation and authentic expression.

5. Focus on Expression, Not Talent

What to Say:

- "Art is about expressing yourself"

- "Everyone can create"

- "There's no right or wrong in art"

- "Your unique vision matters"

Not: "You're so talented!" (implies some have it, some don't)

Why: Expression is for everyone. Talent focus creates external locus.

When Art is "Messy" or "Not Good"

Don't:

❌ "That doesn't look like a [thing]"

❌ "Let me show you how to do it right"

❌ "Try to make it neater"

Do:

✅ "Tell me about your creation"

✅ "You used lots of colors!"

✅ "You were really engaged while making this"

Why: All art is valid expression. "Good" is external judgment. Expression is internal.

Art Classes and Competitions

Classes Can Be Good If:

- Focus on exploration and expression

- Teacher encourages individual vision

- Process-focused, not product-focused

- Child enjoys and chooses to attend

Classes Can Harm If:

- Focus on "correct" technique only

- Teacher judges and compares

- Product-focused (must look certain way)

- Child is forced to attend

Competitions:

- Can be fun if child wants to participate

- Harmful if worth depends on winning

- Keep focus on expression, not winning

Different Art Forms

Visual Art:

- Let them create freely

- Provide materials

- Don't judge or fix

- Celebrate expression

Music:

- Play for joy, not just performance

- Explore sounds and rhythms

- Create their own music

- Not just learning "correctly"

Dance/Movement:

- Move for joy and expression

- Not just technique

- Explore movement freely

- Body as expression

Writing:

- Write to express ideas and stories

- Not just for grades

- Honor their voice

- Process over perfect grammar

When Child Says "I'm Not Good at Art"

Respond:

- "Art isn't about being 'good.' It's about expressing yourself"

- "Everyone can create. There's no right or wrong"

- "What do you want to express?"

- "Art is for everyone, not just 'talented' people"

Why: Reframe art as expression, not performance. This is internal locus.

The Bottom Line

Help your child create art for expression, not approval. Celebrate the creating not just product, avoid evaluative praise, honor their vision, provide materials and freedom, focus on expression not talent. Art builds internal locus when it's about authentic expression, joy in creating, and personal meaning. Art creates external locus when it's about being "good," winning competitions, or getting approval. Let them create from their authentic voice.

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Next: Friendships and Peer Pressure - Standing in Your Truth

Childhood Internal Locus Building series: Practical guidance for raising children with inherent worth.

— Nicole Lau, 2026