Portraiture offers a meaningful way for young children to explore identity, celebrate diversity, and foster connections within their learning community. Through self-portraits, children engage in symbolic thinking, noticing details, and communicating ideas, which nurture positive and confident identities while appreciating differences.
Inspired by the work happening in our demonstration preschool sites, Teaching Preschool Partners designed a resource about Exploring Portraiture with Young Children. The resource provides practical ideas to introduce portraiture, from using mirrors and loose parts to clay sculpting and skin color matching. It emphasizes the value of authentic conversations, documentation, and reflection to deepen children’s understanding of themselves and others.
From the child’s perspective, their reflection is much more than just a face—it’s a story of who they are, a glimpse into their world, and a reminder of their individuality.
You can download Exploring Portraiture with Young Children here.
