Children’s drawings are a useful tool when it comes to monitoring their development and getting an insight into what goes on in their little minds. Whilst drawing and artwork is a fun activity for kids and many little ones will draw and color in pictures that are simply just for fun, you can find out a lot about a child from the pictures that they create on paper of themselves, their family members, and experiences in their life. Read on for 4 Ways to Encourage Your Child to Draw More Often.
For example, children from stable, well-functioning families tend to draw happy photos of their family members together, whilst children growing up in less stable, more chaotic homes tend to draw family members further apart or depict sad or angry faces. On the other hand, the way a child draws themselves can tell you a lot about their self-esteem; for example, if they are bigger than everybody else on the page, this usually indicates a good level of security.
Encouraging your child to draw more will not only give them an outlet for their creative juices, it can also facilitate better communication and give them a means to share their thoughts and ideas with you. Here are some fun ways to encourage your little one to draw more.
#1. Make Greetings Cards:
Is a friend or relative’s birthday approaching? Or has somebody done something nice for your child, and they want to say ‘thank you’? Maybe you’re going to a wedding and your little one wants to draw a picture to say congratulations. A greetings card is an ideal gift for plenty of different occasions. With these free printable greetings cards, you can upload photos or scans of your little one’s drawings to create a unique, customized background.
#2. Art Contests:
Taking part in contests and competitions is a great experience for little ones; even if they don’t win, getting involved can be really exciting and a great boost for social development. Today, you can find a variety of different artwork contests for kids; from small, friendly competitions at school to larger contests with a big prize to win. This is a great way to encourage your child’s competitive side, whilst at the same time teaching them about playing fair with other children.
#3. Pride of Place:
Oftentimes, when a child takes the time to draw and carefully color in or paint a picture for you, they will be very proud of their creation. On the other hand, children with lower self-esteem might come looking for validation and praise from mom or dad. Giving your child’s artwork pride of place in the home, for example having it on your refrigerator or even framing a picture to hang on the wall, will really encourage them to remain in touch with their artistic side.
#4. Access:
Lastly, to encourage your child to create more of their own unique artwork, you should make sure that they have access to the materials that they need. Depending on the developmental stage that they’re at, this could be as simple as keeping a supply of paper and crayons, to investing in more professional artwork supplies for an older child.
Does your little one love to draw? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
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Girl on Fire
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