Self Portraits

At first glance, self-portraits are a way to engage children in examining the details which make up their faces, and then, drawing/creating what they see. However, this simple act of looking into a mirror and creating a reflection is much more as it enhances and supports various areas of development.

We know in art, self portraits are perfect for teaching children how to draw basic body shapes. We recognize and match colors as we discuss the features of our face. Children begin to name their facial features such as eyes, nose, mouth, ears, as well as talking about the colors they see in their face, hair, and eyes, which encourages their language development. 

Another objective of a self-portrait is to give a child time to study their eyes, nose, mouth, and the rest of their face and body, and to work out how it all fits together. This practice of observing details closely, and separating the parts from the whole, serves as a precursor to drawing from observation, and supports early literacy skills.

Most importantly, the act of drawing a self-portrait allows a child to stand back and reflect upon who they are, forming their own sense of identity. We find it interesting to have the child do a self-portrait throughout the year to see the child’s developing sense of self over time. 

Areas of development self portraits support

Fine Motor

  • Strength in hand to draw

  • Proper grip of crayons, paintbrush,pencil

Social/Emotional Self

  • Recognizing how we are the same and different in our community :Diversity

  • Learning more about ourselves : who do I look like? Why are my eyes this shape? Why is my hair this color? (heritage/ethnicity)

  • Identify and visually connect to emotions

Language

  • Observe and awareness to detail

  • Vocabulary: nouns, adjectives

Reading/writing

  • Building words/sentences from descriptions

  • Labeling

  • Words have meanings

Art

  • Spacial relationships

  • Shapes including 3dimensional 

  • Mixing colors

Math

  • shapes,3 dimensional shapes

  • counting

  • lines, patterns, symmetry 

Science

  • If painting : mixing color

  • Parts of the face : 4 of our senses are on our head

  • Parts and purpose of the eye: Iris, eyelash

  • Recording (documenting) observations

Amy McClements