Providing space and a bit of alone time is the number one thing you can do to encourage your child's talent for and love of drawing. Visual artists are often more introverted than performing artists. Children who like to draw often also enjoy solitude. This is natural and provides room for the child to explore ideas.

Here are nine other simple ways to provide encouragement for your child's drawing talent.

Ensure that the young artist has decent supplies. There are different grades of crayons, pencils, and paper. Children do not need high-end, artist grade drawing materials. They do need something other than cheap, waxy crayons and lined writing paper. Take your child on an adventure to an art supply store. Talk with the sales person and buy at least one nice item.

Never criticize or unduly gush about about works in process. Relax while your child is drawing. Take some "me time". Your hovering puts pressure on an activity that should be enjoyable. Commenting on every stroke your child makes creates a negative atmosphere and will quickly turn the child into a worrier. This applies to both negative, neutral, and positive comments. It is important that children learn to trust their own judgment. "Mommy is this good?" is an opportunity for you to ask your child what they think and feel about the process and the product.

Create special places for storing supplies, working, and finished work. If you've ever explored your own creativity, you know hobbies can take up a lot of room. Plan ahead and help your child answer a few questions; Where will drawing materials live? What happens to drawings that are not finished in a single sitting? Which pieces do you hang up to share with others? Remember, some drawings are just about the process.

Offer to give feedback if they want it and promise not to when they haven't asked. You may need to initiate this conversation. I can't say strongly enough how important it is to allow your child to draw without on-going commentary. Prompt them to think about what they'd like you to notice about their drawing.

Utilize your child's other interests to provide subject matter for drawings. Drawing from the imagination is one way of working. Offer household objects and your child's belongings as alternatives. This will help improve their observation skills. Studying everyday objects will also spur their curiosity about how things are constructed and how things work.

Read about learning styles so you can provide encouragement

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