How to Help Your Child Stay Focused on an Art Project

Perhaps you decided to set up an art experience for your child or grandchild at home. That’s really nice of you!

You introduce it to them, but they only dabble here or there and then are ready to be done. How do you encourage them to stay a little longer?

Here are a few things to consider…

1. Age

If your kids are under 3 they may only be able to focus for 30 seconds to a few minutes — and that’s totally normal! Adjust your expectations accordingly

2. Environment

Of course, check for distractions (other toys, people, screens, etc.) and do what you can to make a clean and inviting space for the project. Try putting on either their favorite song to liven things up or quiet, meditative music to help with focus.

3. How engaging the project is — to them
This comes down to both what the project is and how it’s presented.

Try tailoring the activity to your child’s interests. For example, if your child loves animals, print a few animal pictures off the internet to use as drawing prompts, or give them feathers and googly eyes to make creatures out of their playdough or add animal figurines. Ask them what subject they would like to draw/paint/create.

4. Presentation matters

Keep it simple but appealing. Does your setup make YOU want to sit down and do it?

5. Novelty helps

To spark interest, switch up what you might normally offer. Instead of white paper, try black paper or post-its. Instead of a rectangle, cut paper into a circle or fold it! Or cut a hole in the middle! One of my favorite methods is to tape a large piece of paper to the floor for kids to color - the novelty of sitting and lying on the paper, while you’re coloring, makes it irresistible!

Bottom line —Do something different or playful, and you’ll catch their attention. And know that your effort really does matter, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time. You are doing such a great job raising your kids!