Encourage your child to draw | Tips and benefits

Many homes have a corner dedicated to children's scribbles, doodles, and macaroni art. Children generally love to draw, sketch and paint, even if they have yet to find their style.  

But why should you encourage your child to paint? Don't they learn this stuff in school? Well, the main reason why it is good to encourage children to draw is that with their verbal skills still developing, there might be times when they cannot express themselves adequately. Art then becomes a healthy outlet for self-expression and could even curb outbursts of frustration and help children get attuned with their feelings. 

Another reason art is essential for young children because it improves their problem-solving skills and mathematical reasoning. For some children, drawing could lead to thinking of a problem or an idea and its possible outcomes.² So now that we know why kids should spend more time with art, let's see how you can encourage your child to draw, sketch, and paint.

Ways to encourage children to draw

Stock up on art supplies

Make a designated corner, easy-to-reach shelf with all the child-safe art supplies like crayons, pencils, paints, books, small canvases, paintbrushes, and such. So this way, your child can reach out, take anything they want, paint anything that pleases them and be creative.

No pressure to create 
Making drawing a 'task' where you constantly lead them to what they should draw and how to do it can discourage your child. It might have the opposite effect where they refuse to follow directions and give up altogether. So, they must be free to draw anything whenever they want.

Don't critique 
It is critical to be conscious of what you're saying to your child about their drawings. Any hint of disappointment or dislike can make them step back and not want to sketch anything. Also, don't try to correct or fix your child's drawing or adjust any rogue proportions you find in the piece. The best way is to offer help only when asked; otherwise, staying out of it is the best way forward.

Pile on the praise
Praising children has a positive effect, and it encourages them to do better. Complimenting their drawing can build self-confidence in their art. Pin their artwork on the fridge or set a space to display it. Always treat all of your children's drawings as unique, blended with their personalities.

Talk about their art.
Every picture has a story behind it, although you might not see it or understand it. It's always better to have open-ended conversations about their work to know the narrative they created in their minds.

Visit an art gallery or a museum
If your child is particularly interested in painting or curious about learning more, plan a trip to an art museum or a gallery; they might find it inspirational. 

Let mistakes happen
Let your child make mistakes; encourage them to make mistakes. There are no rules to art, and it is a pure form of self-expression. Art exists only for its own sake, so sometimes, it's from 'errors' that your child learns something new and unique. Children can be rigid and want things to be in a specific way, which can also reflect in their art, and they can become quite upset if their picture doesn't turn out perfect.

So, assure them that it's completely okay to make mistakes or get things 'wrong'. Have them understand that in art, there's no right or wrong and that every skill takes a lot of practice to master.

At byjuslearning.com, we provide curriculum-aligned, grade-level learning experiences for kids between ages 4 to 8, helping them build on skills they learn in school. 

Related reading: 

Learn simple finger painting techniques 

Leaf print on t-shirts using fabric paint!

References:

¹DRAWING AS PROBLEM-SOLVING: YOUNG CHILDREN'S MATHEMATICAL REASONING THROUGH PICTURES