Two Different Kinds of Drawing Time

We've all heard the stories of people who got great ideas when they were in the shower, or falling asleep, or maybe, um, in the bathroom. This is because our different modes of thinking and problem solving kick in in different situations.


It's the same with kids and art. There is not just one way to sit down and do a drawing project. Here are two very different ones.

1. Performance Art
This where you sit with a kid and listen while she tells you the story of what she is drawing. Often her narrative will match up with the marks she is making - "The fire is coming out of the rocket -- here!" - and the drawing will actually take place over time. "And then, the snowman came, and he said it was time for lunch..."
This kind of drawing time is really informative because you can see how the drawing comes together, how the child adds detail, and you can ask questions as she is drawing. You can learn what a lot of marks mean, and then when you see them again later you can ask if they have the same meaning or if they have evolved to something else. You can also ask what might happen next, giving the drawing context and encouraging storytelling that goes beyond just one image.
But, it's also important just to sit and listen. Don't feel like you have to "interpret" everything. You don't. Sometimes I have a whole table of kids doing this at the same time, so my over-involvement isn't a problem.

2. Off By Myself
It's also important to offer unstructured, alone time with the paper and pencil. During this time there is no pressure to "perform" or to explain what is being drawn. Drawings might be made and then discarded, and then never looked at again. Others might be repeated over and over. But the lack of "oversight" allows for the child to explore his own thoughts without feeling like he has to explain himself. I really like to see kids doing this because it means that they trust themselves to draw. With littler kids, you can encourage this habit just by leaving paper out while you are doing something else like making dinner. Sometimes you might even get a bonus, when your child goes off and works on a drawing and then brings it to you to talk about it. This is a wonderful process, and all you have to do is listen.