Simple But Effective Ways To Teach Children How To Draw

“Practice makes (it) better.”

― Brian Lies

Drawing is an integral part of a child’s life. Most parents would agree that this particular activity makes their children happy. Drawing or painting also benefits children in multiple ways, like boosting their self-confidence and enhancing their creativity. 

However, teaching your children how to draw can sometimes be tedious. That’s why we bring to you simple tips to encourage your child to draw. 

Simple tips to teach drawing to children

Before you start teaching your child to draw, ensure that your child has a designated, clutter-free place to sit and draw. It is hard to focus on drawing as there can be multiple distractions in a disorganised space. 

Moreover, make sure your child has everything they need to draw – blank papers, a pencil, and a soft eraser. If your child wants to draw with crayons, that’s okay too! It will keep the children immersed in drawing for a longer period. 

Here are some simple tips that will help you teach drawing to your child. 

• Imagine. Before your child starts drawing, tell them to imagine what they want to draw. It might help to draw by moving their fingers or a pencil in the air first. It will help the child get everything they envision on the paper. You could ask them questions like – What else do you see? How does it look on paper? How big or small are the objects?
• Draw lightly first. Tell your child not to press the pencil too hard on the paper. Drawing lightly makes it easier to erase them as we all make mistakes or change our minds while drawing. Using a soft pencil such as ‘B’ or Number ‘2’ is often a good idea. 
• Explore different mediums. There are various kinds of paper with different thicknesses and surface textures. Allowing your child to experiment with multiple papers and drawing tools, such as crayons, coloured pencils, etc., will help them find a medium they are most comfortable with and may spark their interest in drawing. 
• Start easy. Help the child understand the basic structures of what they are drawing. For example, an ice cream cone is made up of a triangle and standing lines. It will help them break down everything they imagine into a basic structure.
• Take a closer look at the art around you. Encourage your children to take a closer look at the paintings they encounter in books, at home, and even outside at art galleries and restaurants. It will help them notice that drawings are all around them. Ask questions like – how does the painting or drawing make you feel? What do you think the painter was thinking while drawing this? Would you draw the painting any differently? etc. It will help children understand and appreciate the art surrounding them. 
• Encourage experimentation. Give creative prompts to your child to motivate experiments, such as drawing things upside down, drawing only in blocks or circles, drawing blindfolded, or even finger painting. It will make the art seem approachable and sustain the child’s interest. 
• Create a wall of fame. Build a wall of fame in one of the corners of the house where you hang or stick your child’s drawings. Make it a point to show their art to other family members and friends that come over. It will surely help the child understand their art is precious and keep them going. You could also save all of their drawings in a file and look at them from time to time. It will help the child know their progress and how far they’ve come.

As the child’s drawing skills advance, you can find structures or learning programs for them to hone their skills. Some children might struggle with drawing and may not progress as fast as you anticipated. Do appreciate your child’s effort and enthusiasm in drawing; it will boost their confidence and allow them to take bigger risks, like attempting more complex painting projects. 

Will you use these tips and tricks while teaching your child to draw? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Also read, 

• DIY Corner: Rice And Coloured Ice
• Easy Ways to Encourage Children to Share 

References:

• Vaughan-Jackson, G. (1990). Sketching and Drawing for Children: Step-by-Step Fundamentals of Sketching and Drawing for Young Artists. United States: Penguin Publishing Group.