Part-time job allows for making a Cartoon Connection with Children

Monday through Friday of this summer I work at a part-time job helping out with a childcare type of program. Specifically, I am around prospective kindergarteners and 1st graders. This job is rewarding and challenging at the same time...but I have to say, one of my favorite parts of the job is when I get the chance to sit with and draw for some of these children. It allows me to share my gift with the kids, to encourage them and most importantly to get to know them. Art is a wonderful tool for making this kind of connection, and I'm fortunate that my employer values what I do and encourages it and utilizes it.
Typically I'll ask the student what they'd like me to draw (keeping it simple, within reason...I do a lot of dolphins, mermaids, unicorns, rainbows, horses, flowers and their name done in bubble letters), then I doodle it out for them and then they'll sit at the same table with me and color the drawing in! And sometimes I'll doodle out some goofiness (see sample images attached below) and color it in, myself, along with the children while they color their sketches! They, the kids, keep me hopping and cranking out the cartoons. __While this is truly a way for me to give back, to inspire and to connect...most of the time it just feels like fun :-)