Teaching Kids how to draw / paint

[Tobemory3]

Does anyone know any good books on teaching art to 4 year olds? I'm a professional creative, so you'd have thought i'd be great at this... but I have trouble letting go and helping my newly adopted daughter do art. I just can't understand what it feels like not to feel confident with a paint brush or a pen, and I"m struggling to just let her go wild and do her own thing. I could do with some good reading materials and ideas on creative play and installing confidence to have fun.

I'm also a professional creative and have 2 DDs aged 10 and 6. I've learned that it's by far the best idea to simply allow them to experiment freely. The concept of "wrong" in art shouldn't exist for 4 year olds.

If a child does not feel confident with a brush or a pen it's because they've had their confidence knocked by someone telling them they're doing it wrong.

Far better to simply supply plenty of materials and let them go for it. I did and still do show different mark making techniques...ie showing them splatter or drip painting...showing them the different marks you can make with a pen or a crayon...and showing them art in galleries and books...discussing those with them.

My older DD I have showed her some perspective tricks but otherwise they just do their own thing.

Yes just give them plenty of decent quality materials and let them get on with it. The worst possible thing you can do is it try to 'teach them how to paint or draw' as it will just mean that they believe that their own efforts are not good enough and they will hate doing it, and probably end up feeling they are 'bad at art'.
You notice that you 'have trouble letting go' ...this is more about your own issues. Don't project them onto your daughter (and congratulations on the adoption of your DD by the way)
There are plenty of ideas on the web for arty / creative / crafty play that you can do together that won't stifle her creativity if you are looking for some more structured activities, as well as her just having free reign with art materials.

Sorry if my post came over as overly critical by the way it's just so easy for kids to lose confidence in their own creativity if they are 'shown how to draw' etc,

Thanks - sounds like good advise.