What Can Parents Do?

Be an enthusiastic audience for your child’s artistic efforts.

• Try to have a ready supply of newsprint, crayons, markers, construction paper, glue sticks, and scissors available for their creative art projects.
• Hang your child’s art on the “Metropolitan Refrigerator of Art” – or at your office – or anywhere that it’s sure to be noticed.
• Wear the clay beads your child made for you – even if they don’t match your dress.

Encourage your child to participate in arts activities at school.

• Attend their art show to see their art on display – even if it’s only one piece.
• Take the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins & neighbors with you to celebrate your child’s accomplishments.

Be accepting and encouraging of your child’s artistic efforts.

• For young children, the arts have no right or wrong answers. They provide avenues for children to feel positive about themselves – and successful about their efforts.
• When asked if you like your child’s work, ask instead if he or she likes it. Comment on specific aspects of what you see (“I really like the colors you chose.” “I can see three different kinds of lines in your picture.”), rather than making judgments (“It’s really pretty!”). For young children, pride in their accomplishments is essential.
• When making art together and avoid the temptation to do it for them. For young children, the process is often more important than a polished product.
• Rather than trying to guess what your young artist has created, (and maybe guessing wrong), ask your child to tell you about what they’ve created. You might be very surprised at the answer!