Child-art, health and philately

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World from a child’s perspective

Children see, explore and understand the world from a fresh perspective. Their world is simple to begin-with and becomes complex as they grow. So does child-art. Scribble, pre-symbolism, symbolism and realism are four stages of child art. Early in age, art begins with a few scribbles. Thereafter, children make their own symbols for various things. At this time, proportions are based on perceived importance of each figure. By the time children become toddlers, child-art also grows in complexity to improved symbolism. Later, it becomes more real, and graphic.

Art by children depicts their sweetness. While, this art-form was always there, psychiatrists became interested it in 1890s. Today, proud parents decorate their offices with their children’s art. Postage stamps have picked up these messages, and have used its symbolism to depict various health themes.

International cooperation for safe and healthy childhood

After Second World War, safe and healthy childhood became a global concern. In initial years, global concern was to rehabilitate children displaced by war. Later, focus of this effort has broadened to immunisation, education, nutrition, and safe built as well as ambient environment. United Nations international children emergency fund (UNICEF) is at the forefront of these global efforts. Postage stamps have frequently used child-art to depict these themes.

A day in a life of a child

Despite coming from across the world, most child-art themes and depictions are fairly similar. Many drawings depict nature – Sun, rainbow, clouds, moon and stars. Another common depiction is togetherness – either mother, parents, friends or pets. Colours are bright and vivid, and multiple real elements are in the paintings.

Children love to play and use their imagination. Their art is a reflection of these features. Regardless of country of origin of these stamps, concepts of play and imagination are cross-cultural. Child art frequently uses folk and mythology to shape their imaginations.

Child-art and happy families

Societies often inculcate desirable behaviours through child-art. Small family norms was one such behaviour desired by populous countries such as India and China beginning 1950s. India has an extensive family planning program. A 1999 first day cover and a stamp about family planning association of India depicts child-art to reinforce a small family. Child-art is frequently used to depict families, and also so in the postal stamps.

COVID-19 and child art

In 2020-2021 various countries have issued postage stamps depicting COVID-19, its prevention and lockdowns. A set of postage stamps from Luxembourg shows children playing, home cooking, being inside the house, video-calls, and a rainbow.

A set of special covers were issued in Chennai, India in October 2020. These special covers show modalities for COVID-prevention, of course before we had vaccines. Have a look, as in January 2023 COVID maybe knocking our doors again. This art depicts various covid prevention measures adopted during the pandemic.