Art Critique and Portfolio Reflection Session

8 to 12 pieces of your child's recent artwork

Tape or pushpins for displaying the art

A portfolio folder or binder for storing selected pieces

Camera or phone for photographing the work

Sticky notes for writing reflections

Gather a collection of your child's recent artworks. Include paintings, drawings, collages, and sculptures — a variety of media makes the review more interesting.

Display everything on a table or tape it to a wall at eye height, like a real gallery exhibition. Space the pieces out so each one can be seen individually.

Walk through the gallery together slowly. Look at each piece for at least 30 seconds before speaking about it.

Ask open-ended questions for each piece: "What do you remember about making this? What was the most challenging part? What are you most proud of? What would you do differently?"

Discuss what works well. Be specific: "The way you blended blue and purple creates a beautiful gradient" or "this composition draws my eye to the center."

Have your child rank their top three favorites and articulate why. "I like this one because..." This builds critical thinking about their own creative work.

Select the strongest pieces for a portfolio. Place them carefully in a folder or binder. Write the title, date, and medium on the back of each one.

Photograph everything. Digital portfolios are easy to share and impossible to lose.

Approach the critique with curiosity, not judgment. Ask questions rather than evaluating. The child should do most of the talking.

Revisiting old work requires metacognition — thinking about your own thinking. It is a sophisticated and valuable skill.

Comparing early work to recent work reveals growth. Point out specific improvements in technique or creative thinking.

Portfolio building is a professional art practice. Do this review every month or two to build a rhythm of creation and reflection.