The Secret Life of 4, 5 and 6 Year Olds

So much for me these days is trying to find some distraction from what is going on in politics and the world...and it is a struggle because I know that looking the other way is what enables the status quo to exist--I suppose there must be some kind of balance between burying my head in the sand and seeking joy in other things.

This entry is in the category of seeking joy: The Secret Life of 4, 5 and 6 Year Olds is a heartwarming and often humorous, sometimes distressing, British television show that gives us amazing insight into the emotional and social development of children.

A specially designed playroom is the setting of the show where we can observe, through hidden cameras, a group of children in the midst of their free play. As viewers, we have the opportunity of watching them make friends, communicate with each other, juggle leadership roles and behave and navigate life in a group setting... The show's expert psychologists offer commentary on the children's behaviour, providing insights into how they are developing and offering advice for parents and educators. This is one of many episodes of The Secret Life of 4, 5 and 6 Year Olds which can be found on youtube.

This is a good follow up to my recent post on Chasing Childhood, the documentary I recently wrote about in a previous blog post (scroll down) that accentuates the importance of free play in childhood.

Creative Growth on Sunday Morning

Photo courtesy New York Times and Pete Buttigieg

So happy to see this piece on Creative Growth featured on CBS Sunday Morning, the Oakland, California organization I have been raving about for years now. Wonderful that they are getting the national attention...

I remember the first time I stumbled upon this place...I was walking by and looked in to this enormous studio space with people hard at work, totally engrossed in all kinds of art making activities: printmaking, embroidery, sculpture, painting, ceramics. And there was a gallery attached full of wonderful, raw, inspiring work. I stopped dead in my tracks and thought, "What is this?!" Tears came to my eyes. I realized that the place was full of artists. Not people with disabilities making art but artists who just so happen to have disabilities...people who normally the society might consider throwaways and everyone in there was engaged in creating and producing amazing work!

Founded in 1974 by psychologist Elias Katz and his wife Florence (an artist herself) in their garage, Creative Growth is a pioneer model that should be adapted in every town. The philosophy of the founders "is that each person has the right to the richest and fullest development of which he is capable. Only then can society reach its fullest potential … Creativity is a vital living force within each individual.” — Florence Ludins-Katz and Elias Katz, founders of Creative Growth

Click here to learn more.

Art by Dan Miller is in many museum collections around the world.

Creative Growth at the Oakland Museum, courtesy Leopoldo Macaya, Oakland Museum of California

Art by Scott Martin, courtesy of tghe artist, Jeff Minton and The New York Times

Amanda Gorman on the Fires

Photograph by Abbie Trayler-Smith / Panos Pictures / Redux

Born in California in 1998, American activist, poet, and model Amanda Gorman has emerged as one of the leading voices of the next generation. Here she reads her new poem Smoldering Dawn, a tribute to her home town of Pacific Palisades, California, in the light of the catastrophic fires of January 2025. Gorman first rose to fame when she performed her poem The Hill We Climb at the inauguration of Joe Biden in 2020.

For more information, watch her on The View.

And here is a list of some of her favorite things.

Paintings of the Week

Charity of the Week: World Central Kitchen

World Central Kitchen and Jose Andres are as usual on the front lines—in this case, helping and feeding victims of the California fires…

Charity of the Week: Pasadena Humane Society

Anyone who has a pet can see the terror in the eyes of this dog and my heart breaks for all the animals affected by the LA fires. Please consider giving to the Pasadena Humane Society. They have taken in over 400 animals from the Eaton Fire Emergency and are desperately in need of monetary donations to help purchase medical supplies and other resources as they start to see a significant increase in the number of burned and injured animals coming to our shelter.

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.