Creative Little Artists

“That’s amazing!” “Wow!” “Incredible!”

 All those wonderful, superlative exclamations we use to describe our children’s art may not be as helpful as you think. They may even have a negative effect on the child’s motivations. 

Maybe we express those compliment because we can’t think of what else to say?

Child development experts tell us that “when we pile on the praise, children may start “performing” for our reactions.” 

They also begin to associate praise, rather than the activity itself, with accomplishment. This may set a disadvantageous framework for their cognitive thinking as they grow up.

Before you know it, kids will draw pictures to hear the compliments, rather than for the love of the process. It’s not exactly what we intended.

Here are  different approaches that will encourage our child’s creativity, and in the process, help develop an art vocabulary.

Start by Asking Questions 

• What’s happening here?

• What did you use to make this?

• Why did you decide on those colours?

• What title would you give your work?

 Follow it up by Making Observations

• You used so many fun, squiggly lines here.

• I see lots of red and yellow!

• You filled the whole paper with your painting.

• You’re really concentrating while you work.

• I see so many shapes here like triangles, circles, and stars!

Talking with children about their art by asking questions and making observations is a great way to encourage children to be creative. Build self-confidence in your children, they are creative little artists.