Why farting booger monsters matter

They frowned at my farting booger monsters

When I was a kid, my sketchbook was filled with goofy creatures.

Farting booger monsters.

Zombies with missing eyeballs.

Scary supervillains with backstories longer than a Harry Potter book.

I didn’t think it was “weird.” It was just fun. Silly. Honest. Me.

But even though my parents were fairly supportive, I still heard things like:

“Why don’t you draw something pretty instead?”

“Maybe don’t bring that one to school…”

“You’re so talented—why don’t you try some landscapes or fruit baskets?”

And I heard worse from my third grade teacher who I lovingly dub Ms. Crankyfurter. 😆

No one meant harm.

But over time, those little comments did something big:

They taught me that certain kinds of creativity were more acceptable than others.

So I stopped showing them my art.

Eventually, I stopped drawing altogether.

All art deserves a safe place to grow

In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron writes:

“Art requires a safe hatchery… We must learn to protect our artist child from shame… Shame is the enemy of art. It tells us to stay small, to stay silent, to stay safe.”

That’s the opposite of what helps kids succeed in school—and in life.

The kids who thrive are the ones who take risks.

Speak up.

Think differently.

Bring themselves to the table.

And that’s why protecting their wild ideas—even the farting booger monsters—isn’t just about art.

It’s about confidence, courage, and lifelong self-expression.

Whether your child loves still life fruit bowls, sparkly unicorns, or slime-shooting trolls…

They need to know their ideas are safe.

They need to feel that their drawings won’t be dismissed or gently redirected every time they get a little “weird.”

If we want our kids to grow as artists, we have to protect the tender part that makes them want to create in the first place.

That means making space for their ideas.

A quick phrase you can try today

Next time your child shows you something surprising or strange, instead of saying:

❌ “Why don’t you draw something nicer?”

or

❌ “That’s….interesting.”

try:

✅ “Wow, that’s so creative. Tell me what’s going on in this one!”

or

✅ “What a wild idea—how did you come up with this?”

Not only does this keep their imagination safe…

It also builds connection, confidence, and trust.

You’re telling them: “Your ideas matter. The world needs more of them.”

That’s exactly what we do at Kids Cartoon Academy

We teach kids real drawing skills and we create a safe hatchery where all kinds of creativity can thrive.

• Spooky monsters? Yes.
• Pretty flowers? That too.
• Farting food? We’ve seen it—and we love it.

In fact, we’ve just introduced the Collabs & Games channel in our private community to give them more permission to be their silly, most creative selves.

This was all inspired from some of our students who organically started their own “Junkbot Tournament” in our community:

What’s a junkbot? I had no idea, but I love it!

A bunch of kids submitted their entries (their own monster robots), others made their own animations for the rounds, they pitted the robots off against each other, and people voted for the winners—all completely organically and on their own!

(That’s collaboration, leadership, creative skills…all developing in real time by the way!)

Their imaginations were running wild.

And I wanted to encourage more of it.

So I gave them their very own channel to help them share ideas, connect, and collaborate even more easily.

(Note: Not every family uses the community hub—it depends on the child’s age, interest, and online habits. It’s totally optional, but it’s an incredible space for those who do.)

Because this is bigger than just drawing…

It’s about giving kids a place to belong.

A place where their goofy, brilliant, off-the-wall ideas aren’t just tolerated—they’re celebrated.

If that’s the kind of creative space you want for your child…

You would love our Kids Cartoon Academy Membership.

And I’m so excited to announce that we’re opening enrollment for Kids Cartoon Academy next week!

But only to families on the waitlist.

>> Click here to join the waitlist if you haven’t yet. <<

Let’s protect their spark together.