Introducing Young Children to Art

Interested in giving your little one an early start at art appreciation? Well you've come to the right place! You don't have to be an expert, a teacher or even an art connoisseur to introduce your child to the world of art. Heck you don't even have to go to a museum if you don't want to (although I really think you should sometime!)

Here are a few easy ways for you and your wee one to enjoy art together...

For the very young: (ages 0-2yrs) 

: Board books are a great way to start when it comes to very young children. Like you would with any other book for babies, simply point to objects in the pieces and name them. Don't worry about getting your wee's first words to be "MO NET" or "PI CA SO," that'll come later when they're studying at the Ecole de Beaux Arts.

Here are a few books I recommend

  

  

For toddlers and beyond (ages 2 & up)

: As children get older you can continue to show them books with art or take them to the museum. I like to do two things to introduce this age group to art: 1. Play I Spy and 2. Make up stories about different pieces. I Spy is easy, simply pick one piece of art and play. You might want to spy a color, shape or object. Try to pick a piece with elements that match your child's vocabulary. 

When it comes to telling stories, this game can be as easy or as complicated as you want. Have your child choose a piece that is interesting to them. Invite them to help you tell a story about that piece. There is no right or wrong, don't worry about teaching your child context, simply let their imagination create a backstory for the piece they've chosen. If they need a little help getting started, you can ask them questions about what they think is happening in the piece or what their favorite part of the piece is, then you can tell them what you think and like the most. 

Here are a few pieces to get you started:

School of Athens,  Raphael 1509

The Scream, Munch 1893

The Fortune Teller, Donald Friend 1956

Dancing Fox, Koson 1910

Still Life with Melon, Samuel John Peploe c.1920

PS 

• Here's Art Gallery of New South Whales where you can virtually tour the gallery and find The fortune teller. 
• Here's a link to more pieces by Munch at The Munch Museum in Oslo.
• Here you'll find more Japanese Art like the Dancing Fox.
• More works by Peploe at National Galleries Scotland. 
• And of course more by Raphael.