HOW TO RESPOND TO YOUR CHILD'S ART...

...without using your thumbs or uttering those two words…good job! 
 
I’m definitely guilty of the ‘thumbs up’ and ‘good job’ more times then I would like to admit, but I am making a conscious effort to change the words I use with my children, especially in relation to their efforts, creations and learning. Today we are hosting a PD Day Art Camp for kids in the Studio and I thought about an article I had read months ago about how to respond to your childs art. I also thought about our teacher training, which focused on encouraging learning and next steps. So for those parents whose kids are in art camps, or kids who bring home art from school or create art at home, or for those aunts and uncles or grandparents who get that special drawing from a little one, and don’t know how to respond without a 'thumbs up' or a 'good job', I have put together my fav top five suggestions from my readings of how to respond to art…

1. Don’t assume you know the subject. Ask your child to talk about their work. Our kids love to talk about their work and will gladly fill you in on what they have created. It’s as simple as ‘Can you tell me about your work?’
2. Ask about their process in making the art. Focus on details rather than meaning…ask about colours, shapes, textures and composition.
3. Begin a conversation about the work with phrases like ‘I noticed you ...’ or ‘I see that you…’. This one is my personal favourite in avoiding ‘good job’. When I feel those words creep up in my throat I use these phrases and ask something like ‘I noticed you used a lot of purple. Can you tell me about that?’
4. Don’t judge the work. Avoid the ‘thumbs up’ and ‘good job’, rather take this opportunity to focus on the details and journey of making the work (see 2 & 3)
5. Celebrate and display the work. In our house we have an art wall. The kids use this area to display their art they have created and it acts as a little gallery to show family and friends that come to visit. 

 
So the next time your child shows you their art, try some of these tips to help you avoid the thumbs up and good job. Not that either of those are necessarily bad, they just aren't great. It's kind of like a pat on the back. The child has your approval but there wasn't further learning for them or inquiry/interest from you. Responding in these ways will help you to celebrate your child’s creative efforts, encourage their learning journey and shows that you are genuinely interested in what they are doing. For more information and further tips, check out this article on the Globe and Mail, written by artist and art therapist, Sarah Teitel.
 
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/life/parenting/how-to-talk-to-children-about-their-art/article35560776/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theglobeandmail.com&click=sf_globefb

Thanks for reading!
Amanda