How to help a child be confident about their art

How to help a child be confident about their art – top tips.

Last week when my son returned from school laden with a huge colourful painting I didn’t say ‘whats that?’ Instead I asked him if he would like to to tell me about his picture. He eagerly sat down and told me about this tree he was supposed to copy that was black and white but how he had wanted to make it like a rainbow tree that made people happy.

He said I could share it with you:

How to help a child be confident about their art

It’s the,most he has told me about any art he has created in ages. Normally I say ‘ Oh that’s nice what is it ?’ To which he would reply  ‘It’s a tree’  followed by whats for tea? Can I watch Scooby Doo? Let’s play football.’

‘What is it?’ implies I don’t recognize what it is or it implies his picture should be a thing not an experience or a feeling but an object and one I can understand. Children either may consider you should already know what it is or may have created something  that just is rather than an object. Inviting them to TELL you about their picture instead invites them to share the process, emotion and experience of their art not just describing a ‘thing’ they have created. Give it a go!

Last week I want to a round table with  Professor Angela Anning an expert  and author on children, child development and art.  Another great tip she shared was that at age 6 or 7 children become self conscious and if they cannot draw something accurately often perceive they are not ‘good’ at art. At this point she suggests ensuring the see a lot of different art  from Picasso’s cubes to the Fauvists use of bright colour to an impressionistic sunset. This way children will know there are many ways to be an artist and photographic like copying is but one way.

I find all this incredibly helpful as a parent.  Angela’s ideas are inspirational

Making Sense of Children’s Drawings by Angela Anning and Kathy Ring published by Open University Press.(ISBN 0335 21265 4)

The roundtable I attended was sponsored by Bic who know a thing or two about kids and art and the new products they were launching clearly show this. Let me introduce you to this awesome new range.

Water brush over your pencils to turn them into paint!

These are untra washable with vibrant colours and your children can make as may dots as they like these nibs are super strong!!

Easy to sharpen and not made of wood so clean breaks, no jagged edges and a new pencil!

Twistable colouring crayons, long lasting, very hard to snap, clean hands too!

And these felt tips…you can leave the caps off for 3 MONTHS and they won’t dry out…WOW!

Now these is are a great budget buy because they will last. Cheapy felt tips last mere weeks no matter how much you badger kids to replace lids and not press too hard. These withstand kids and allow them to focus instead on creating art.  Each BIC Kids product retails between 33-£5 and are excellent quality innovative products. My children loved them. There are many more in the Bic Kids range each with excellent features.

Do visit Bic Kids .com there is a fantastic competition plus online colouring there..lots for you and your children to benefit from www.bickids.com

Look for more confidence tips here

Bic gave me tea at the Ritz! and some colouring products. my view  are as always my own!