How To Draw For Preschoolers
Drawing is an incredibly powerful way to express the ideas and imagination of preschoolers. It’s a language they can use to communicate with their teachers and classmates, and it helps to develop their creativity and problem-solving skills. But how can you help them learn to draw? Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or caregiver, here are a few tips on how to encourage kids to draw.
1. Provide Materials & Encourage Exploration
Provide materials like crayons, paints, markers and paper for kids to explore. You don’t need to have an expensive art set – just make sure the materials are safe and accessible for preschoolers. Encourage exploration by giving them opportunities to draw freely and explore different tools. Let them make a mess, be creative and find their own style. Instead of teaching them how to draw something specific, give them a broad topic like “draw a landscape” and allow them to create whatever comes to mind. This will help them grow their skills and build confidence.
2. Set Up A Dedicated Drawing Space
Create a dedicated space where kids can draw. This could be a table or an art studio – it can be as simple as you’d like. Dedicating a space for drawing is important as it provides a sense of ownership, structure, and stability for kids. By having a space devoted specifically to art, kids begin to recognize the value of their artistic endeavors and can develop a healthy relationship with art.
3. Use Natural Prompts & Encourage Storytelling
Kids are naturally inquisitive and full of questions, so use those natural questions as prompts for drawing. Instead of asking a child to draw, for example, a horse, let their imagination take them there. Ask, “What does a horse look like to you?” or “Can you draw an adventure you went on this morning?” These kinds of prompts allow children to tap into their imagination and to explore the world around them. Encourage storytelling – ask kids to draw stories they’ve heard, and then have them talk about what they’ve drawn. This boosts their confidence and helps build their language skills.
4. Narrate As Your Child Draws
One great way to encourage kids to draw is to narrate what they’re drawing. This is a great way to help boost their vocabulary and language skills. When narrating, focus on the objects, sounds, and shapes. Not only will it help them in the moment, but it’ll also open up their minds to explore their environment more, which will only help them in their future drawing projects.
5. Celebrate Every Drawing
Preschoolers are still learning, so celebrating their accomplishments is extremely important. Every drawing should be celebrated, regardless of the quality. This reinforces their confidence and will help to motivate them to keep creating. If a child isn’t feeling particularly creative or motivated, parents or teachers should take the time to show them some of their previous drawings. Seeing their previous success may be the push they need to pick up the crayon or brush and start drawing!
6. Avoid Emphasis On Grade Levels & Perfection
Kids shouldn’t feel like their artwork needs to fall within a certain grade level or be perfect. Instead, encourage them to explore their creativity and create artwork based on what excites them. Talk about the process of their work and the decisions they made rather than critiquing the final product. If they seem to be struggling with technique, carefully guide them but don’t take the pencil away. Focus on the act of creating rather than the perfection of a finished piece.
7. Use Technology & Interactive Apps
Digital drawing tools and apps can add a whole new layer to the drawing process – it allows them to explore in ways they couldn’t have imagined before. Technology can bridge the gap between concepts they’re struggling to understand and how to express them. For example, try using drawing apps to challenge kids to come up with their own characters or create their own imaginary worlds. There’s a lot of potential for kids to express their creativities and develop their skills!
8. Get Outside & Draw
When the weather is nice, take advantage of it! Get kids outside to draw! Drawing nature is a great way for kids to understand the world and express their creative sides. If a child is struggling with a concept, try to draw it in nature – like grass, trees, birds, and more. Use the natural elements to help the child explore and draw it. Not only are they exercising their creative muscles, they are also building their observation and awareness skills.
9. Talk About Other Local, National & International Artists
Talking about other artists helps to give kids context. It shows them that they aren’t the only ones who create art and it gives them an idea of what kinds of things other artists have created. Talk about local, national, and international artists – it’ll help kids to explore their environment and get ideas for what kind of artwork they can create.
10. Display Your Kids’ Masterpieces
Finally, make sure to display your kids’ artwork proudly. Whether that’s on the refrigerator, a classroom wall, or in a special display box – make sure to show them that you appreciate their hard work and that you want to help them to build their confidence. This will also show them that their artwork is worth something and will encourage them to keep creating.
