5 creative ways to kick-start interest in art in your child
Print Edition
AS parents, we know we should foster our children’s creativity, but if we don’t feel very artistic ourselves, it can be difficult to support them. Creative expression is essential for social and emotional intelligence and lends itself to stronger science and math skills, so knowing more about how you can help your child develop is essential. Here are some ways you can get their creative juices flowing:
1. Introduce art to your child
Introducing your child to as much art as possible allows them to find the type of art in which they are most interested. That doesn’t have to mean taking expensive trips. Shanghai has a great number of fantastic art galleries and museums, or you can simply provide your child with books on art, or view art together on an iPad.
2. Start with the digital medium
One of the easiest ways to kick-start a young child’s creative side is to introduce them to pop art pieces like Andy Warhol. Often, it’s what children are most attracted to at the beginning of their artistic journey, and it’s easy for them to recreate. You can even use an iPad to make creative pop art together. Later, you can introduce different media, such as crayons and pencils. Next, let them create little comic books, and then have them move on to making collages. These are all excellent ways to encourage them to express themselves and learn what they love to create.
3. Allow them to get messy
Often, parents hesitate to allow their child to create a mess, but for them to truly express themselves, you need to let your child be free and creative. Let them be messy as long as they are creating something. Find a space in your home where they can let their creative side out. If you want to have an easy cleanup solution, you can get a large piece of plastic laid out on the floor or table, and by giving them a creative space, you’ll see their art flow!
4. Start a dialogue with your child about art
Ask your child questions and start a dialogue about art. You also shouldn’t feel like your child has to like every art piece. If you’re in a gallery and your child doesn’t like a piece of artwork, ask them, “Why don’t you like it?” Encourage them to become little art critics! By doing this, they begin to hone in on details and techniques that they might try themselves.
5. Look for messages in your child’s artwork
When your child brings something home from art class, it’s important to talk about the artwork instead of blindly praising it. There’s always a message in the art which gives a window into what’s happening in your child’s head. Ask questions about their work, such as, “Tell me about what’s happening in your picture,” or “How did you come up with that idea?” It’s a fantastic way to not only learn more about what your child is thinking but also show that you’re truly interested in their expression and support their creativity.
Toward the end of his life, Pablo Picasso visited an elementary school and was in awe of the art the children had created.
He said, “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” As parents, we need to embrace our children’s creative expression and help them thrive during this critical point in their development.
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