I said I would keep you updated on my summer reading in all books about art education with children. The book I am currently reading is called The Art of Teaching Art to Children by Nancy Beal.
Today on the subject of how to talk to children about their art.
'How an adult responds to a child's artwork is extremely significant" -Nancy Beal I have always been very thoughtful of my words when responding to a child's work. The advice given in this book and one I agree with strongly is to always give back specific process-based feedback to children about their work INSTEAD of declarative statements about its value to you....here are some examples of what to do and not to do:
DON'T SAY: "That looks very pretty?"
INSTEAD DO SAY: I noticed you used lots of hearts in your work.
DON'T SAY: Can you tell me about your work?
INSTEAD DO SAY: Let's look at this. Where did you make the lines/shapes?
DON'T SAY: wow, you must love that color.
INSTEAD DO SAY: That crayon moves fast round and round.
DON'T SAY: That red there looks cute
INSTEAD DO SAY: You used red on both ends of the paper.
Notice you are simply stating what you notice in terms of color, shapes, colors and lines. If you add verbal judgements to the work you are looking at, your shared ideas may take the child's mind off their own path. In simply stating what you notice in terms of color, shape, colors and lines, you are making the child aware of their physical movements in relation to their work. If you simply give a blanket statement such as, "that's very pretty", remember that perhaps the child's aim was not to make it look pretty at all, or to even to 'please' you with their work. In making such statements laden with judgements (even if positive) you add this requirement to their work and they may or may not know how to 'please you' the same way in the future.
It's important that art with children be about 'children stating how they themselves want to approach their work, bring their own personal responses to questions the teacher has raised. And the teacher (or grown up) by accepting what they are doing -reaffirm their individuality and their right to express their individuality. "
