8 Ways to Discuss Kids’ Art

Your child walks over with a sheet of paper and says, “Look!” You look at the drawing, smile, and say, “That’s so nice!” It’s a natural response, but sometimes you want to say a little more. What can you say about your child’s drawing to start a conversation? You can notice a specific detail, ask how they made it, or invite them to tell their own story.

Look first, then ask

You don’t have to recognize every character and object right away. If you’re not sure what the picture shows, don’t feel you have to guess. Start with what you actually see: colors, dots, long lines, or an area filled with tiny details.

Choose one thing to say, then wait for a response. The ideas below aren’t a checklist of questions to ask all at once. Sometimes your child wants to tell a whole story. Other times, they just want to show you their work and get back to playing.

1. “Would you like to tell me about your drawing?”

This invitation lets your child decide. They might start with a character, a small detail, or something that happened before the scene they drew. You don’t need to suggest what the picture is “supposed” to show.

If they say no, a simple response is enough: “Okay. Thank you for showing me.”

2. “I see lots of blue and little yellow dots here”

Describe one detail without judging it. Adjust what you say to fit the picture: “This line goes all the way across the paper,” or “There are big circles here and tiny ones next to them.” Your child may pick up the conversation and explain their idea, but they don’t have to.

This approach also works for abstract art that doesn’t show any particular object.

3. “Where did you start drawing?”

Ask about how the artwork came together. Maybe a big circle came first and later became a planet. Or perhaps your child started with the smallest character.

If they don’t remember, there’s no need to retrace every step. You can simply look at whatever part they want to show you.

4. “How did you make these lines?”

This is a chance to talk about the drawing process itself. Your child might show you how they turned the crayon, made dots, or layered one color over another. If they want to demonstrate, offer a separate sheet of paper rather than asking them to change their finished work.

You can ask a similar question about a collage: “How did you make this part out of paper?”

5. “Which part would you like to show me first?”

Let your child choose where to focus your attention. To an adult, the big house might seem most important. To the artist, it could be the tiny snail hiding by the fence.

This question also works with a finished printable coloring page for kids. Choose a picture from our animal coloring collection, then look together at the patterns and details your child added.

6. “What’s happening in this picture?”

If the drawing shows a scene, you can invite your child to tell you what’s happening. Don’t assume a character is running away, feeling sad, or afraid of something. Wait for the artist’s explanation.

If your child wants to build on the story, you can ask, “And what happens next?” For a drawing made up of patterns or patches of color, choose a different question.

7. “Does this picture have a title?”

A title can be short, funny, or completely unexpected. “The Garden” might become “The Place Where Flowers Eat Ice Cream.” You can also have fun naming artwork made using our plant coloring sheets.

Not every piece needs a title. If your child wants to write one down, let them choose where it goes, or offer a separate slip of paper.

8. “What would you like to do with your finished artwork?”

You could put it in a folder, give it to someone, display it on a shelf, or use it in a game. Ask before hanging up the drawing or writing anything on it.

If your child wants to turn the picture into a character for a show, explore this idea for making stick puppets from coloring sheets.

Do you have to stop saying “That’s nice”?

You don’t need to watch every word. You can honestly say you like the drawing and add a specific observation: “I like how these colors look next to each other.” When your child asks directly, “Do you like it?” answer them rather than immediately asking another question.

Not every piece of art needs to lead to a long conversation. Sometimes looking together and saying, “Thank you for showing me,” is enough.
Choose something to download, print, and color together, following your child’s lead.