suggestion on teaching drawing to 4-6 years old - Page 1

HI All,

We have a drawing teacher coming to our apartment for drawing class but somehow I feel her method is not correct. She first draws the object using pencil then  ask children to overwrite it using sketch pen n finally color it using pastel oil colors ( crayons) . She doesn't teach basic strokes ( while coloring)etc ... hence I would like some art expert or expert parents to provide some guideline as how the classes should be planned as to get maximum benefit.  Parents/expert , pls. provide your input. 

Hi SSG, I am not an expert in drawing. But this is what i learnt from my son's art teacher.  Last night we had "Back to school night" in my son's school (yeah the school just started as the academic year is from sep to june) when they gave a briefing on what the child will be learning through out the year in english, math, art etc. These are the points that were given for art.

The very first thing the art teacher said is she will never ask a child to copy a picture. Always encourage them to draw by observation or thro imagination. my son is in UKG. This semester in drawing they will be taught only the free hand drawing thro imagination. The next semester they will learning to draw thro observation. The shading- light effect will be taught in next year or even later.  She says that the child will be asked questions abt what he is going to draw, what are all going to be in the picture, how big each picture is going to be etc before drawing.  After completing the child will be again asked questions in why the picture looks the way it is to understand what the child has in his mind while drawing. The way she would correct a drawing is by explaining where there shd be curves and where  straight lines have to be used. 

In painting they will be taught about the primary and secondary colours and their combinations, different techniques of painting such as effects of combining oil pastel caryons and acrylic paints, wax crayon and water colors etc.

For the past couple of weeks he has been bringing drawings of "his dream bed room", " His family portrait", Picture of himself and his friend in the play ground.   

 Another approach I follow is we both start drawing a picture with a common theme.

End of it she tells me how I can change my drawing, same way I tell her some comments (ofcourse minimal!! after having appreciated her efforts ..) I could see that she observes how I have drawn and seen her attempting the same later ..say something like how neat my strokes were, how often I have used eraser etc... Ofcourse if she draws a Icecream truck it will not always look like that..but we can atleast figure out the icecream cone.!!!

We paste those drawings in the wall !! 

When I make dosa i make sure I give her cat,dog,elephant...simple structures...I see that while eating she observes it.  It also challenges me while thinking on how to simplify a complex structure and give a cartoon like simple look. Interesting is it?!

Colouring again -- I do one page and she does one..

Hi,

I just came across your post. I am a drawing teacher and run an arts school at Bellandur.

The aproaches suggested by RoshMom and HiRadhu are indeed very appealing to the children and are the right tactics for children between 3 - 4 years. This is of more fun to the children.

However drawing is just like learning a language and this is a language where hand and eye co-ordination play a key role. Hence if the effort is to help the child learn to draw, try to give the child a hand drawn dotted image and have the child draw over the dots. More over simple exercises on straights lines and curved lines can be given on a daily basis. If the child is below 5 yrs of age and has just started to learn to write letters, have them write real big letters. Thankfully english alphabets are also great exercise for straight and curved lines :)

Guidance is extremely important. Hence you can teach the child to draw a house, tree, hills, clouds etc individually and then have them compose the entire drawing by themselves.

If you see that the lines are broken or crooked it shows the child is not confident about his/her drawing, in such cases you need to encourage your child really well. However if the lines are well defined even if it is slanting it shows that the child is ready for the next lesson.

Another important point is donot focus on coloring and drawing together. As children find painting easier first help them understand the right method of coloring and help them build their focus and patience at it. once you observe that the coloring is neat and is not going beyond the outlines too much you know your child is ready to receive guidance on the drawing part.

Children tend to draw very small images initially, encourage them to draw big figures which doesnt have to be perfect. The lettering practice will help them draw Big.

I think I have pretty much explained the details of the basic approach. Incase you have questions please feel free to call me at 9900159881.

Thanks

Mridula Menon

hi,

i wanted to know how to teach colouring strokes to a 5 year old, eg while coloring a circle or say a triangle or a square or rectangle.

Hi,

Suggest the child to color in sleeping lines and also let the child draw the outlines of the figures using a black sketch pen. A clear outline visible to the eyes will enable the child to control the strokes within the limits of the lines.

HELLO,

My child is 2yr8 months...........whenever i give him colour he just scribble.....i bought a book whr one picture is coloured n other is white...then also hescrible on coloured one only...i sat with him n try to taught him but of no use...

please help as how to teach him colourimg within boundaries or in a rite manner..

Hi Nehab,

It is common for children that young to do what he is doing. Instead of the copy color book, draw 2 simple shapes like square and rectangle and outline it with black sketchpen first, then you color one in front of him and have him to color the other one.

Do not mix all shapes in one go. First week try squares, then rectangles, then triangles and so on. Also give him only one color per day. Once you see improvement in his coloring pattern it means his brain is co-ordinating his eyes and hands. Now you gradually move into curved shapes like circles and then to the copy color book.

Shapes bounded by straight lines are always easier to color. :) Also try to use dotted lines and have him draw the shapes following the dots. This will enhance the motor skills of the child.

THANKS... Mridula....

will start the same n hope for better result.......shall i start with crayons or pencil colour..which is better option

Anytime :)

Pencil colors are hard in texture whereas crayons are softer. Try the twistable crayons ... if I am not wrong FUN brand has it.