How can you use art to help your child achieve?

• Begin with exposing both you and your child to art museums and books of art.
   
  
• Provide materials that encourage creativity such as pencils, paper, crayons, paper scraps and watercolors. These "toys" are far less expensive than most.
   
• Provide a space for your child to exhibit his work (refrigerator, wall, bulletin board...)
   
• Write down what your child says about their creations. This may involve guiding questions from you, such as "Can you describe what you created?"
   
  
• Refrain from comments that may contradict what your child has expressed about her creation, such as " That doesn't look like a dog" or "Dogs aren't blue." Use reinforcing comments such as, "I like how you made the dog so colorful."
    
• Encourage your child to develop his problem solving techniques by having him draw when he is upset. His drawing will enable him to see what happened so you can discuss ways to solve the problem.
   
• A journal provides a place for your child to return to each day to draw out what she did. You can encourage her by adding personal words and dates to their drawings.
   
• Let the arts inspire you and open you and your child to a colorful way of seeing and learning!

The SAIL (School for Arts in Learning) charter school in Washington, DC contributed to this article.