The arts bring joy, color, and sound to our lives, and young children, especially, are often naturally drawn to acting, singing, dancing, making music, and creating visual arts. With access to art supplies, children can create drawings with unique composition, color, and story. If you want to engage your child in a conversation about their art, we have a few ideas to get them talking. As Leonardo da Vinci wrote, “Art is never finished.” Encourage your child to reflect on their creations by asking them the following questions.
Ask Them to Narrate the Process
Most of our conversations about art with children consist of discussion about the end product they created. This can put undue weight on finishing artwork, rather than discovery through the process. To encourage process-based reflection on your child’s art, ask them to describe how they made the art. Conversation starters like “What part of this painting did you work on first?” “What did you do next?” and “What did you do after that?” helps focus your child’s attention on the entire artistic activity, rather than the finished product.
If you notice your child getting frustrated that their product doesn’t match the vision they had in their head, try to help them focus on what they learned and to see art as a physical and intellectual activity. This is why free exploration with art supplies can be more enjoyable than art with a specific outcome in mind.
Ask Questions About Their Artistic Choices
Once your child has described the art-making process to you, it’s your turn to ask questions about decisions they made. Try to keep the questions short and sweet, focusing on unusual or meaningful choices. While it may seem simple, asking questions about artistic composition and materials can help kids reflect and learn from their process. Something as simple as choosing marker over crayon can help kids understand that they can change their minds and try new approaches when they’re engaged in creative work.
Ask About Challenges They Encountered
Feel free to inquire with your budding artist about any challenges they encountered while making their arts. When kids can narrate their experiences of overcoming adversity (even in a drawing), they start to see themselves as capable and confident problem solvers. Switching gears in midstream is a fantastic life skill for resilient kids to practice, and art can help them think on their feet.
Praise A Specific Technique or Aspect of the Art
It’s natural to want to share your creative work with others, and that’s definitely true for kids as well. Little ones love to hear your response to their art, so you should feel free to share what you love about a piece. Maybe it’s the bright colors, unexpected materials, or size and scale. Rather than going straight to the fridge and putting up the picture, ask your child if and how they want it exhibited, which can allow your little artist to take pride in how their work gets displayed. Finally, display your child’s artwork at his or her own eye level so that it becomes a visible reminder for them to keep learning and growing through new projects.
The Gardner School Builds Confident Preschoolers
One of our very favorite things about caring for kids is watching them discover their own gifts and talents. We help little ones learn by providing a scaffolded, supportive environment where they can grow their skills. If you’re looking for exceptional child care that helps support your family, contact us today to learn more, or check out our virtual tours on our website for The Gardner School nearest you. You’ll quickly see why parents choose The Gardner School!