New technologies have become much more accessible to families and their children, offering them new ways to learn important creative skills. Still, drawing is one of the most fundamental of these skills.
Children can't always express themselves using actions or words, so drawing offers them a different way of communication. Through your child's drawing, you can get an insight into his/her thoughts and feelings. For your child, being able to express what he/she feels also boosts his/her emotional intelligence. Drawing also helps your child enhance his/her motor skills. From a small scribble to a masterpiece, drawing can enhance a child's motor skills even from a young age. Starting your child as early as possible will help him/her improve his/her hand and eye coordination while fine-tuning his/her finger muscle. Here are some ideas you can try to encourage your child to draw more.
Children can't always express themselves using actions or words, so drawing offers them a different way of communication. Through your child's drawing, you can get an insight into his/her thoughts and feelings. For your child, being able to express what he/she feels also boosts his/her emotional intelligence. Drawing also helps your child enhance his/her motor skills. From a small scribble to a masterpiece, drawing can enhance a child's motor skills even from a young age. Starting your child as early as possible will help him/her improve his/her hand and eye coordination while fine-tuning his/her finger muscle. Here are some ideas you can try to encourage your child to draw more.
Create a Workspace
Designate a space in your home where your child can practice art. Keep in mind that tables can always be covered and protected to allow your child to have a workspace. During warm weather, consider taking art outside. The most discouraging thing you can say do your child is "Don't make a mess! Making messes are, in most cases, just the beginning of the creative process.
Gather Materials
It's very important that drawing supplies for kid are readily available in your home. This allows your child to feel free to go for it whenever creative strikes. Keep them in a place where your child has full access - of course, age-appropriate access. For young children, leave only safe and relatively easy-to-clean supplies available. But considering that art can often be messy, keep an art table where creativity can get a little wild without too much worry. Whether painting, drawing or building a foam picture, almost every child can find something that invites them to create art. Keep in mind that a childrens drawing set makes a great gift for a birthday, Christmas or as a reward for special achievements.
What art supplies to get? Lots of them. Crayons, markers, chalks, pencils and pens are a must for the art supply stash. Whether for simply sketching in a notebook or creating a masterpiece, always keep variations of these items on hand. When it comes to painting supplies, you can use a variety of different products to match the skill level of your children. For example, instead of using paintbrushes for toddlers and preschoolers, use Dab & Dot Paint Markers for a cleaner painting experience.
And make sure to always have a large variety of paper readily available. Papers not only come in handy for arts and crafts but for project-based learning too. Keeping different papers organizing may seem difficult at first, but with stackable letter organizers, you may be able to keep things under control.
Lots of projects need a little stickiness, so get glue sticks, liquid glue, clear tape, etc. You can also get some fun items to spark imagination such as wiggly eyes, pipe cleaners, glitter glue, pom poms, feathers, etc. Art kits and childrens drawing set can be an inexpensive way to provide creative inspiration and artistic training.
What art supplies to get? Lots of them. Crayons, markers, chalks, pencils and pens are a must for the art supply stash. Whether for simply sketching in a notebook or creating a masterpiece, always keep variations of these items on hand. When it comes to painting supplies, you can use a variety of different products to match the skill level of your children. For example, instead of using paintbrushes for toddlers and preschoolers, use Dab & Dot Paint Markers for a cleaner painting experience.
And make sure to always have a large variety of paper readily available. Papers not only come in handy for arts and crafts but for project-based learning too. Keeping different papers organizing may seem difficult at first, but with stackable letter organizers, you may be able to keep things under control.
Lots of projects need a little stickiness, so get glue sticks, liquid glue, clear tape, etc. You can also get some fun items to spark imagination such as wiggly eyes, pipe cleaners, glitter glue, pom poms, feathers, etc. Art kits and childrens drawing set can be an inexpensive way to provide creative inspiration and artistic training.
Give Your Child Lots of Opportunities to Draw Without Pressure or Direction
Some children tend to shy away from drawing because they don't think they can do it right. In this case, providing them with lots of opportunities to draw on their own terms, when no one else is watching, when it's not a special activity, can give these children space to experiment and practice without pressure. So, make sure your child has paper and drawing supplies always freely available so he/she can write or draw whenever they like, without having to ask and without the pressure of anyone watching.
Find Meaningful Reasons to Draw
Other children need a practical, good reason to draw. You can ask your child to send a letter to a family member, draw their own postcards, draw a list of things they'd like for their birthday or Christmas, write and illustrate a book together, make a sign for their bedroom door, create a sheet of wrapping paper for a special present.
Make it Easy to Get Started
In some cases, getting started is the difficult part. You can try some free printable drawing prompts for a simple starting point that still offers room for creativity or use a collaborative doodle drawing for a fun beginning and activity that you can do together.
Make It About the Process and Not the Product
Make your child's drawing activities more about doing and drawing and less about how it looks in the end. Observe and comment on what your child is doing when as they draw, like for example, "you are drawing lots of lines" or " you've used lots of orange and blue". Try asking your child about their drawing and follow their lead rather than trying to guess what it is or force them to talk about it. If your child wants to show you their drawing or creation, great! But if they don't, make no big deal of it.