OBSERVANT LANGUAGE - How to talk to your children about art
How to Talk with Children About Their Art
Words are powerful and children know it! You were probably taken aback the first time you heard your sweet faced child drop a swear word and actually use it in a sentence correctly. I have been there when kids have tested some new vocabulary words just to see the power they have.
When talking to children about art, we have the opportunity to give them the confidence to communicate visually as well as verbally. Our words have the power to encourage and lift their thoughts and imaginations or tear them down.
They need observant language, words that describe what you observe about your their artwork. When you use words and phrases that describe your child’s work, you are giving them art related vocabulary without passing judgment.
We want our children to develop a strong voice using visual art. It’s another way for us to understand and get to know who they are as little people. If we make comments that judge their artwork they may begin to edit themselves and only create work they think others will approve of. We want them to create freely and do it by choice not as a chore.
As children get older there will be time to share opinions about artwork, what you like or don’t like and what you both think about various pieces of artwork. I’ll talk about that more in a future article.
Some examples of observant language are;
‘These lines are horizontal.”
“You filled the whole page.”
“I see a lot of space between your marks.”
Words like; line and mark are generic and keep the conversation neutral. Other comments can include how the lines or marks feel.
“This line feels fast.”
“Thick lines feel strong.”
“That line is wiggly.”
As you make observations you are teaching your child how to communicate using visual art. When they do begin to ‘talk’ with art they will use the line that best expresses their visual language and you will have helped make that possible.
Avoid asking questions about what they are drawing or asking them to tell you about their drawing. Remember this is a visual conversation they are having and often times they don’t know or have the words to describe their work. They may assume you will know what it is, and when you don’t, they may feel as if they have failed. Sometimes, it really is just fun to draw nothing.
These early works of art are a journey not a task or one time goal. It will feel strange and awkward adjusting your verbiage this way but it will become more natural as you practice having conversations around art.
Finally use your new observant language out in the world with your child. Observe signs that feel bold, lines that curve, colors that are together on a building. I just noticed how bright and clean the new building next to the grocery store looked today because they had freshly painted it a pretty new green. It made the pink color of the grocery store look dirty and dull. That was my observation all by myself, but if I had a child in the car I would have pointed it out.
Words and art are powerful ways we communicate.
Practice using Observant Language.
Be patient. This is a change in thinking and speaking, so it will take time and practice.
Thanks for reading, now go make some art!