Talking to Children about Their Art

That blob of color, scribbled line or fuzzy shape may mean a lot to your child. Now how do you talk to them about it?

The best way is honesty, according to online resource Family Education Network (life.familyeducation.com).

“Children are hungry for true appreciation. They do not want flattery, opinions or even blind support for what they do,” according to the organization. “All children create from who they are in the best way they can.

“If parents and teachers don’t introduce the idea of better and worse, the children won’t either. When children are a littler older, they have already been conditioned to think in this way.”

Early art experience not only encourages creativity, but fosters independence, sensory exploration and happy memories, according to Bright Horizons Family Solutions (www.brighthorizons.com).

“The way we can be most supportive is to know our children and encourage and appreciate progress based on the individual child’s emerging interests and skills,” the child care and education company states. “This might mean praising more sustained efforts rather than quick scribbles, more small motor control, experimentation with the use of color or form or more sophisticated representation of ideas or feelings, not necessarily more literal interpretation of ideas.

“Helping the child reflect on their work is the most important thing that we can do.”
When talking to children:

• Ask them about their ideas for art they’ve created;
• Find how they made it;
• Learn about the materials they used;
• Ask what they know about well-known artists;
• Understand what children like best in their own work;
• And ask what they will draw or make next, according to research posted through Community Playthings (www.communityplaythings.com).

“Engage children in guided discussions about artists, their work and the children’s own artwork,” the Georgia-based business suggests. “Ask open-ended questions; follow up yes/no questions with how/why questions.”

PBS also lists tips for talking with ages 2 to 5 about art, new words and other topics at www.pbs.org/parents/talkingwithkids/agebyage_3.html.

Sources:
“Giving Children Feedback on Their Artwork.” Family Education Network. Cited 2 November 2006. life.familyeducation.com/creativity/painting/35838.html.

Johnson, Margaret. “Art Talk.” Community Playthings. 2006. Cited 2 November 2006. www.communityplaythings.com/c/Resources/Articles/ArtWithChildren/ArtTalk.htm.

“Talking with Kids.” PBS. Cited 2 November 2006. www.pbs.org/parents/talkingwithkids/agebyage_3.html.

“Tell Me about Your Picture: Children and Their Artwork.” Bright Horizons Family Solutions. Cited 2 November 2006. www.brighthorizons.com/efamily/article.aspx?id=176.