Alexandra Vaillancourt

Dateline Boston – I’ve been thinking a lot about art recently. It’s all about self-expression, right? I have some advice for parents (or anyone who is with children) about how to nurture your artist from the time he or she is born. All kids are artists. It’s our job to give them materials and opportunities to explore, no matter what comes of it. Process, not product, is the name of the game.

When you give a toddler a crayon, he or she is going to scribble or barely make a mark on the paper. As they get older, they will make more marks. Eventually, their drawing will represent something. Oftentimes, the child will announce what it is after it’s made. Only later do they set out to make something and then make that thing. As you may have found, it’s sometimes difficult to make something that you have in your head and make it come out the same way.

When an older child makes something, the best phrase to use is, “Tell me about your picture.” You’ll save yourself and your child from embarrassment. If you’ve ever said, “Hey, nice plane!” and your child responds indignantly, “That’s not a plane, it’s a garden!” you know what I mean.

Time to be Sensitive

Also, please refrain from asking what is missing in your child’s drawing. It’s all developmental. A 3-year-old might draw a person with a circle and lines for arms and legs. Don’t ask where the body or mouth is—they will come later, after much experience and growth. Enjoy the pictures, date and save them, and see how they change over time.

Same thing goes for glue. Very young children need experience just playing with glue. What is it? Sort of like water, but not really. It’s sticky! And messy! At first, they put a lot of glue on the paper. A LOT. That’s okay! The picture might be just glue. If they are going to glue something to paper, they can put the glue on the paper and stick something to the glue, or put the glue on the object, then flip it over to stick it on the paper, which is more difficult. Please don’t instruct your child on how much glue to use. They will figure it out. When they’re older, between 4 and 6, you can tell them about dots of glue. But they still need to do it themselves to get it. They will get it, don’t worry.

Also, play dough. It takes a lot of practice to roll play dough out and cut shapes with cookie cutters. Months and years of practice. They will get it. Let them explore. Let them watch you, without the expectation that they will do it like you will. You have had decades of experience. They’re just starting out.

I’ve seen children lose interest in art because they don’t do it “right,” or kids who want a grownup to make things for them because they feel like they can’t. They also hear grownups say “I’m not a good artist.” Maybe you need to explore, too! Of course, some kids aren’t interested in art, and that’s okay. If you provide materials and let children really explore, you will be amazed at what comes out. Have fun!

Ms. Vaillancourt may be contacted snobbyblog@gmail.com