“Good job!” is kind, but kids hear it so often that it stops meaning much. The words that build a young artist’s confidence are the ones that show you really looked. Here are 20 phrases to use when a child shows you a drawing, in four kinds, plus a few to avoid.
1. Notice the effort
- “You kept going even when it got tricky.”
- “You worked on that for a long time. That takes patience.”
- “You tried something new today.”
- “You fixed that part all by yourself.”
- “You didn’t give up on the hands. They were hard!”
2. Describe what you see
- “I see you used lots of bright colors.”
- “Look at all those tiny details on the robot.”
- “Your lines are so bold and confident.”
- “You filled up the whole page.”
- “The dinosaur looks like it is really running.”
3. Ask about it
- “Tell me about your drawing.”
- “What is happening in this part?”
- “What was your favorite part to draw?”
- “What name would you give this character?”
- “What would you add if you drew it again?”
4. Show it matters
- “Can I hang this on the fridge?”
- “That made me laugh. You gave him such a funny face.”
- “I want to remember this one. Can we put it in your folder?”
- “You should show Grandma.”
- “Will you teach me how you drew that?”
Phrases to skip
- “You’re so talented.” It makes drawing sound like something you have or don’t have. Praise the practice instead.
- “What is it?” It can sound like the drawing failed. Try “Tell me about it.”
- “Next time, try…” right away. Save tips for when they ask for help.
- Comparing to a sibling or classmate. Compare a drawing only with the child’s own earlier work.
Why it works
Specific praise tells a child exactly what they did well, so they can do it again. Praising effort teaches them that drawing gets better with practice, which keeps them trying when a drawing is hard. And questions show that their ideas matter, which is what makes a child want to keep making things.
Print this list for the fridge or the classroom wall with your browser’s Print button: the page prints without the menus.
Looking for something to draw together? Pick a page from the free activity pages, or read what to do when a kid says “I can’t draw”.
Questions
Is it bad to say “good job” to a child?
It isn’t bad, but it is vague. Adding what you noticed (“good job sticking with the hard part”) makes it mean much more.
How do I respond to a drawing I can’t recognize?
Say “Tell me about your drawing” instead of “What is it?” Kids love explaining, and you’ll learn what they were going for.