Part 5: Ask Open-Ended Questions

From: Process Art for Kids: What Parents Should Know

Process art can help K-8 students express their emotions and practice critical developmental skills.

By Katie Loos

Process art is centered around the learner, and as such, "should be driven by the intrinsic motivations of the learner," Crow says.

Parents often ask results-oriented questions with a "yes" or "no" answer. It may take some practice to ask open-ended questions that, Crow says, "really encourage a young person to tell a story, or expand on an idea, or explore all the different possibilities."

Bakri suggests the following: "Rather than interpreting or saying, 'Oh, that looks like this,' ask a really open-ended question, like, 'What inspired you?'" The question then becomes more of a conversation than a directive, and it keeps the process playful and the child present in the moment.

She recommends making specific observations as well, such as, "'I see that you were working really hard on this part.'"

Murphy agrees, noting that "giving them encouragement that's not, 'What a pretty picture,' but rather emphasizing how hard they worked" places importance on their problem-solving abilities.

Lastly, parents can ask their kids to ask them questions, too. "Kids are getting asked questions all of the time and being told what to do," Bakri says. Process art allows them to turn the tables and have control over their artwork – and their emotions.