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How to Teach a Child to Draw a Tree

Many children shy away from expressing their creative sides because they feel they aren't as skillful in art as some of their peers. Teaching a child to draw a simple subject, such as a tree, is not difficult if you go about it in the correct way. Art is self-expression and each person reflects his own perspective in the final work. Encouraging a child to practice and develop his drawing skills is an effective way to build self-esteem.

Things You'll Need

Paper
Sharpened pencil
Eraser

Instructions

- 1
  Walk with the child outside to really observe a tree. This teaches the child that observation of the subject you want to draw is vital.
- 2
  Discuss the different parts of the tree and point out the trunk and branches and where the leaves attach to the tree. This teaches perspective and how one part connects to the other to form a living tree.
- 3
  Point out how the tree trunk doesn't extend straight out from the earth; it starts out as a wider base and then narrows toward the top of the tree. These type of observations direct the child's attention to the details in the tree.
- 4
  Instruct the child to begin drawing the tree on a sheet of paper with a sharpened pencil. Explain to him that practice is necessary to learn any skill. Once he masters the art of drawing a tree that pleases him, he can advance to using crayons and paints to enhance the tree art.
- 5
  Praise the child for his efforts, even if the drawing is quite amateurish. Explain that art is an interpretation by each individual and that his own interpretation is never wrong.
- 6
  Explain that erasers on pencils are there so that the artist can erase sections of his drawing that he doesn't like and correct them. Encourage him to step back a few feet to determine what he feels is wrong with the art. If the trunk is too short or there are not enough leaves, show him how to correct this.

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