HOW TO TALK TO YOUR CHILD ABOUT THEIR ARTWORK
If your children are anything like mine, you will have had hundreds (thousands?) of beautiful drawings, scribbles and creations thrust at you, followed by an expectant look of a hopeful child. While it can be so tempting to offer an ‘Oooo, amazing’, or ‘Wow, that’s great’, these little moments offer us a brilliant opportunity to increase children’s self-esteem and encourage their creativity. So here are three great ways to talk to your child about their artwork:
1. COMMENTING
Make seemingly obvious and simple observations about your child’s artwork through the use of specific comments. This isn’t us making any judgements here but shows your child that you have really looked at their creation and value it. This may feel unnatural at first but stick with it as you might just be surprised at your child’s reaction. They are much more likely to respond to your comments, rather than a generic, ‘That’s nice.’
You could try saying:
I see you have used lots of pink and orange in your picture.
You’ve drawn lots of triangles there.
You spent a long time creating this.
2. QUESTIONING
Asking questions about a child’s artwork again shows them that you value their creation, as you are interested in it. It also encourages the child to think a little more critically about their work.
You could try asking:
What gave you the idea for this?
Why did you choose blue for this part?
What title would you give your artwork?
What would you like to do with your artwork now?
3. LET THEM TAKE THE LEAD
If you are not sure what to say to your child about their artwork, let them take the lead on the conversation, with the simple prompt: ‘Tell me about what you have made…’
There is nothing more disheartening for a child than if their carefully created work is misinterpreted or has elements mistaken for something else. By asking them to tell us about their work, we put the ball back in their court. This technique is particularly handy for younger children, who may present a page of scribbles expectantly!
