Supporting Your Child's Emotional Growth Through Art: How to Respond to Frustration

It’s only natural to want to encourage and support our children in everything they do. However, when it comes to art, it can be challenging to know what to say when our kids experience frustration. 

"My four-year-old melts down when she makes a mistake on her drawing. What do I say?”

Whether it's a four-year-old who melts down when their drawing doesn't come out the way they wanted or an older child who is struggling to get the hang of a new technique, it can be tempting to step in and minimize it with the following phrases,

• “It looks great! What are you talking about?’

• “Here, let me show you how…”

• “Stop being so hard on yourself, kid!”

If you are a parent or a teacher, I bet you already know that when you’ve tried that approach, you are met with more frustration, crumpled paper, and scowls. 

So, what can you say instead? Here are a few suggestions that may help your child work through their frustrations:

• "That didn't come out the way you wanted it to."

• "I remember learning to draw and it was tricky for me too."

• "You were wishing it looked different."

By acknowledging your child's feelings and helping them put words to what they're experiencing, you can provide them with the emotional support they need to work through their frustrations. Kids just want us to understand how they're feeling inside. They don't necessarily need us to tell them that their drawing looks great or to show them how to draw it. You'll see them work through their frustrations much more productively by simply giving them their feelings and words to match.

Helping your child overcome frustration is about understanding their emotions and providing them with the support they need to work through their challenges. Taking a supportive and understanding approach will give your child the tools they need to grow.

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