How to talk to your kid about their art
Ask about the piece, then let your child tell the story. Open questions like "Tell me about this" work better than "What is it?" Write their words down the same day, and in Yearloom add them as a note, so the title can come from their own name for it.
Most parents know the moment. A drawing arrives, you say "nice", and the real story walks away with the child. A week later you cannot remember who the purple one was, or why the sun was green.
The details are what tell you who your child was at that age: who is in the picture, what is happening, why the dog has wings. The drawing shows what they could make. Their story shows who they were.
Why ask about the art instead of just praising it?
Praise is lovely, and it ends the conversation. "Beautiful!" gives a child nothing to answer. A question gives them the floor, and most children are delighted to explain their own work.
Asking also builds a habit you will both enjoy. Over a year, you will hear a little more each time, and your child will start telling you the story before you ask. Asking also tells your child something quiet and important: that you are curious about how they see the world. That matters more than any compliment.
Research on children's drawing (Rotenberg, Jolley, Barlow and Cox, 2016) suggests drawing peaks around 12, then fades for most of us. The years you can ask about it are a short and special window. Source: Rotenberg, Jolley, Barlow and Cox, 2016
What are good questions to ask about a drawing?
Keep the questions open, short and friendly. Try one of these and then wait a moment longer than feels natural:
- "Tell me about this."
- "What is happening here?"
- "Who is this?"
- "What would you call it?"
- "What is your favorite part?"
Avoid "What is it?" It quietly says that you could not tell, and children notice.
What if my child says it is nothing, or does not know?
That is fine, and it happens to every parent. Some pieces are just colors and the joy of making them. You can say, "I love these colors. Which one did you pick first?" and leave it there.
Some children are tired or shy at the end of a school day, and that is all it is. Try again at a calmer moment, such as while you spread the pieces out on the floor on Friday. The story often shows up sideways, in the middle of something else.
Why write their words down the same day?
Children's words fade fast. A phrase that makes the whole family laugh on Tuesday is usually gone by the end of the month, and the child will not remember saying it.
A single line is enough: their name for the piece, one thing they said, and the date. Years from now that line is the part you will read out loud. Many parents say they wish they had written the date and the story on the piece at the time, because it is hard to remember later.
How do their words become part of the piece?
In Yearloom you snap the drawing, and add what your child said as a note on the piece. Their words are used in the title, so "The dog who lives on the moon" stays exactly as they said it.
Yearloom is a private gallery just for your family. Each piece is kept cleaned up, titled and dated, with their words beside it, so the story stays with the art.
Start with a free trial, so you can try it with a few drawings and the stories that go with them.
Questions parents ask
What is a good first question to ask about my child's drawing?
Start with "Tell me about this." It is open, friendly and easy to answer, and it lets your child decide what the story is.
Is my child’s art private?
Yes. It’s visible only to your account, and we never use it in marketing. We never sell your data or your art. You own it: Yearloom claims no ownership of your child’s art.
How does the free trial work?
You start with a free trial. A card is needed and you pay $0 today. If you cancel during the trial, you are never charged. For the plan and price, see the FAQ at yearloom.co/faq.
