Getting Kids Interested In Art

I look around at art galleries sometimes and I see that a relatively small sub-set of the population seems to be represented. I wonder whether my own children will be following in my footsteps, or whether they'll simply be left wondering what all of the fuss is about.

Having a parent who takes an interest must help in such situations. At least, that's what I tell myself! If you're looking at ways to really foster a level of interest in your own children, then it makes sense to start when they are pretty young. This doesn't mean dragging them to every gallery within a 100 mile radius, although that may be appropriate in some circumstances.

Instead, you could certainly an encourage the production of basic pieces. This might involve something as simple as buying a set of paints and some brushes. By allowing children to discover how much fun should be associated with art, you really create a fantastic starting point.

What you will be trying to do will be to create an interest that will grow over time. It's fair to say that I've seen some parents looking to force kids in a certain direction. There's the suggestion that doing so will generate the required results, but I'm not really sure that this is the case. In fact, there's a really clear danger here that things will go the other way.

As you'll probably know, most teenagers aren't too keen on being told what to do. You may have convinced younger children to follow your interest in painting or sculpture, but older kids will really only take that path if it's something that they genuinely wish to do. Otherwise, they will simply end up resenting your choices.

So you need to take an approach that's clearly suited to the children involved. Don't be tempted to fall into a default position, where you may be left dictating what you believe is right. By doing so, thinking that you are doing the right thing, you may actually end up leaving kids pretty cold about the whole idea of art.

As they grow older, of course, it's likely that they'll have questions to ask. They'll want to learn more about the history of individual works of art and it will be important for you to make time available. By responding to that interest in a positive manner, you can really help to ensure that art continues to play an important role within their lives.