Teaching your kids to draw doesn’t have to be time consuming. In fact, even if you don’t know how to draw very well – you can actually learn while helping them gain the skills! What should be the first steps in instructing our kids in their artistic abilities?
Teach Them to See with “Drawing Eyes”
For a while, I didn’t understand that drawing is an observational art. So much with drawing has to do with learning to observe things. A friend of mine gifted me with one of the best books that I have ever read on drawing. It really helped me discover how to draw. Here’s the book. I definitely recommend reading it and going through some of the lessons with your kids. Not only will you be teaching them, but you’ll be having fun as well.
Help them Love Art
Children need to understand the value of things in order for them to get excited. Inspiration is essential for them to keep working at this skill. Here are some ideas for you to keep the kids engaged:
Show them art in children’s literature.
One of my favorite artists is a children’s book author. Her name is Jan Brett. She has written and illustrated some of the most beautiful children’s books that are out there. Reading her books to your kids will definitely inspire them. When children see the art in the context of a story, it means a lot more to them. Show them the gorgeous artwork in her books. There’s so much detail that goes into each page. My favorite book of hers is the Gingerbread Baby. You can get it here!
How-To Video: Jan Brett has made several videos with step by step instructions for others to learn how to draw farm and wild animals. In that post, the kids can easily pick which animal video tutorial they want to watch since each one is organized and labeled into a table.
Make drawing part of family time.
Make drawing a family project. That way you can learn a new skill while bonding. For example, if you go to a pumpkin festival or pumpkin farm during the fall season, make sure you bring home some pumpkins for family time. You can use some of these pumpkin face painting ideas and creative pumpkin decorating pictures for you to brainstorm which pumpkin you will paint together as a family.
Look into the history of art with your kids.
Here’s a link to the famous Louvre Museum. Take the virtual tours of this museum with your kids. This is a great way to learn without even having to leave your home. You can do this during family time or simply whenever you feel like it.
Harness their love of the computer.
After the kids have practiced drawing a lot on paper, you can have them start drawing on the computer. Here is some free software that you can install on your hard drive. Having artistic and drawing activities to do on the computer is a great motivator for them to play with art. Here’s a fun topic about decorating gingerbread men and Christmas gingerbread house decorations, and there are several online activities linked from there.
Identify their interests.
Find a particular interest for each child and show them how drawing is involved in that field. Artwork is all around us – for example, in cartoon characters, magazine covers, brochures, etc. When I showed my oldest child that he could learn how to draw “Veggietales,” he was so excited!
Incorporate drawing into unit studies.
If you’re studying insects in the classroom or at home, teach your child(ren) how to draw them. I wrote a free penguin lesson unit study with penguin crafts & coloring pages in which you can get some creative art ideas when you’re teaching about penguins.
Don’t ignore their achievements.
Last but not least, if you want your kids getting excited about drawing, then acknowledge what they have done. Genuine words of praise go a long way. Take pictures of what they draw and display them on the refrigerator or in a scrapbook. Showcase their work to your friends and family. I can assure you this will make them very happy and help them to feel a huge sense of achievement.
Great post Eren,
I am an absolute fan of getting kids to draw. It is a fantastic way for them to express themselves and get the left brain to work with the right brain.
When they see what they have produced they get motivated to create other master pieces. There is no right or wrong way to draw, often kids need ecouragement to grow their confidence.
We have works of art hanging all around our home.
Well done Eren.
.-= Elise Berenger´s last blog ..GreenPan Safer Non Stick Cookware: Healthy Stainless Cookware =-.
Yes i agree its not just for kids to express themselves it may help other as well. But i like your points and also want my kid to draw some thing he would like to, no matter he draw that on a wall :).
Hi Eren,
My tip for encourage kids for drawing is to use matches.
For Example when I teach my kids painting square they arrange matches like square and then it was more easy for them to understand how to draw.
.-= Kids Activities´s last blog ..Activities for kids – Idea No. 4: Kids Halloween Activities =-.
Thanks for stopping by! I like the idea with the match sticks. With my little ones I may use some of the Popsicle or tongue depressors – but good idea!
Drawing and art is such a great way for children to express themselves!
Well done on a great website!
.-= Helen´s last blog ..Clockwork Madness Arcade Game =-.
Thanks for stopping by Helen! Our special guest Eren did a wonderful job with these tips and tricks! You can see more of Eren’s advice by visiting her website Embracing Home!
Hi Eren,
Many thanks for putting these tips together. I spend hours looking through sites like yours while the kids are in bed. its great just to get some good ideas on what to do and how others do things with their children. Many thanks.
Drawing is a great way for children to express all their inner workings, thoughts and feelings. Not only that but it means then as parents you can talk a bit more openly with the knowledge of how they are feeling at that moment in time. I used to love drawing as a kid and still do it now. I find its a great way to express how I’m feeling.
I couldn’t agree more. I started my own site just to promote drawing for kids. Drawing is really the first art that most kids take part in. If we nurture and support that creative flame while they grow and give them the tools to work with, creating art will be something they grow up with as part of their life. My motto: what our children create today shapes our future for tomorrow.