How to Introduce Your Child to Appreciate Works of Art

Here are some useful tips for a successful visit to a museum visit your toddler. There is no need to be a specialist in transmitting the pleasure of watching works of art and instilling art and its pleasure in your toddler.

Discover the art in small doses

A little child has to start art gradually. When you go to a museum with an infant younger than 6 years, take a look at two or three paintings and only two to three sculptures. No more! Make sure that he really observes them well.

It is very obvious that adult visitors only spend 10% of their time watching works of art themselves. They spend the rest of the time reading information related to works.

Watch unconstrained

To view a work you must take time. A child of 3 to 4 years will spontaneously be drawn to a piece of art. Let him take a look at time carefully and when he stops in front of a work, let him take his time. In museums, the floors are often slippery and shining...this will surely attract the child's attention and it is very common to see a small child lying down on the floor trying to draw one of the works he likes with his coloured pencils.

Play, say, invent

In return than, the child will be able to scan the entire work of art. He will also try to describe what he is seeing in front of him. Asking simple questions like "What is that?" or "What is the difference?" you can build assumptions and stories making the child interest himself in what he is seeing.

Exercise their critical thinking

You do not need to be proficient in art or in the history of art to transmit to a child the pleasure of seeing a piece of art. You are not obliged to love masterpieces; they could eventually be not to your liking. The Mona Lisa is small and dull most probably you would not comment about it to your child. You have the right not to like what you are seeing and telling that to your child.

Express emotions

Little can be said about 'Jacqueline' or a sculpture by Picasso. You can comment to your child that works of art by Picasso are really great. You should point out to your child that he was a great artist and inspires us to be creative. As children are very sensitive they can be really upset by seeing such large canvases, filled with characters that are standing, making big gestures or else holding weapons in their hand.

A visit to the museum should be made as interesting as possible so that the child will remember what he has seen.

Sources:

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