“I’m bad at art.”
Maybe your child says it before they’ve even picked up the chalk pastel. Or maybe it comes after they look at their picture and decide it doesn’t look quite like the example.
Those words can stop creativity before it ever has a chance to begin.
One of the things I love most about art in our homeschool is that it gives us a beautiful opportunity to help our children see things differently.
Because art isn’t about being “good” or “bad.”
It’s about trying, creating, and discovering what happens when you give yourself permission to make something that is completely your own.
There Is No One “Right” Way to Make Art
We want art to be a place where our children can experiment without worrying about getting the answer right.
That’s one of the reasons Nana’s chalk pastel lessons work so well for so many different ages, abilities, and learning styles.
Nana walks your child through the project one simple step at a time. They can follow along, pause when they need to, choose their own colors, add their own details, and make the artwork theirs.
“You ARE an Artist!” isn’t just something Nana says at the end of a lesson.
It’s something we want our children to begin believing about themselves.
What If “I’m Bad at Art” Really Means Something Else?
Sometimes those four little words aren’t really about art at all.
They might mean:
- “I’m afraid I’ll mess this up.”
- “Mine doesn’t look like yours.”
- “I don’t know what to do next.”
- “This is harder for me than I expected.”
And that gives us an opportunity to respond with something other than, “Of course you’re good at art!”
Instead, we can help them focus on the process.
- What part did you enjoy?
- What color do you love the most?
- What would you like to add?
- Want to try that part again together?
Little by little, the goal shifts from Is my picture good enough? to Look what I created!
Sometimes the child who says “I’m bad at art” doesn’t need an art lesson nearly as much as they need a safe place to discover and explore their own capabilities.
Because the real gift of art isn’t a perfect picture. It’s the confidence that grows while creating it.
More Help for a Creative Homeschool
- Online Homeschool Art Lessons for a Reluctant Artist
- The Best Art Lessons for Homeschool Families
- Homeschool Art for the Child That Hates a Mess
Remember, You ARE an ARTiST! 🎨
P.S. We invite you to create with Nana and find an art lesson your child will love!
Shawna Wingert is a special education teacher turned writer, speaker and consultant. She is also a homeschooling mom of two brilliant boys with differences and special needs. Shawna has written four books for parents – Everyday Autism, Special Education at Home, Parenting Chaos and her latest, Homeschooling Your Child With Special Needs. She helps parents of children with learning differences, behavioral challenges and special needs every day at DifferentByDesignLearning.com.