To create a self-portrait, our first step is to look closely in a mirror. We look at the shape of our head and trace that shape using our pointer finger. We trace the shape again with our finger on the paper. Creating the face and hair was all anyone had stamina for in that session. So, we do this much and stop and return to the work another day.
Stamina for a multi-step process is something that challenges most young children. Often they know and understand more than they can actually do. They get tired before they can finish. Muscles get tired from using them in new ways and the mind gets tired from remembering the steps and processes. We knew we were asking a lot of each child.
