ILTS 206 Sub-Area 3 Practice Question #27

A three-year-old child who has just finished painting a picture asks her teacher to "Come look!" Which of the following responses by the teacher to the painting would best support the child's self-expression?

"I love your colorful picture! It makes me think of a big, beautiful garden.""You used so many different colors in your picture. Can you tell me about it?""I think we should hang your picture on the wall. Where should we hang it?""What a beautiful picture you've made. I think it's the best one you've painted so far!"

Correct Answer: B

When responding to young children’s artistic creations, teachers must take care not to impose their own judgments or interpretations of the works. Even making complimentary statements (e.g., “Oh, that’s beautiful!” or “I love your picture!”) can have the unintended effect of prompting young children to begin seeking adults’ praise for their works rather than to continue their unselfconscious explorations of color, texture, gesture, and media. Neutral observations such as “You used so many different colors in your picture. Can you tell me about it?” are generally considered appropriate because they make no judgment and keep the focus on the child’s work rather than on the adult’s reaction.