Aspiring Artists

Today we did something simple that requires little preparation and uses only supplies around the house. Simple drawing. Don't take drawing fo granted! There are GREAT developmental gains to be modeled and learned for little ones simply by drawing! Drawing allows your child the opportunity to explore self expression, develop spatial skills, practice fine motor activities, develop cognitive skills as the problem solve, and enhance language as you discuss what they are or have drawn (early story telling).

Drawing surfaces:

Children can get easily bored with white paper. I have had success letting Ella draw on old shipping boxes, leftover cards, construction paper, scrapbooking scraps, notebook paper, etc. I even have brought a box of crayons with me and let her draw on the paper on the doctor's tables while we are waiting.

If you have access to a dry erase easel expo markers and erasers or chalk and a chalk board are great fun! Easels also provide a great set up for children to develop some of the muscles they will need to begin writing.

Drawing Utensils:

Change it up! ...Pens, pencils, markers, even a wet paintbrush on construction paper will allow your child to take a break from the mundane and get some drawing time in daily.

Let your young child use different shaped utensis as well. Once they have a good grip let them use regular colored pencils to develop a healthy grip for writing.

Getting Started:

A child's drawings are used as an indicator for readiness when they begin school. Specifically drawing themself or a person. At the age 5 they should typically be able to draw a "person" with 5 parts. How do you develop this? Keep pointing out body parts in pictures, books, and the drawings that you do with your child. Never tell them that they are "wrong" but encourage them to draw more and add details to their pictures. However, if they are done - let them be done. If your child wants you to draw something for them... DO IT!!! Children learn most by watching their moms and dad!

Remember to allow them plenty of time to draw quietly and explore on their own as well. In our house we get pictures ranging from random scribbles and shapes - to intentional forms. Independent experience is important for their creative development.

Talking about Pictures:

As with ANY activity remember to talk to your child about what they have done. Allow them to label and explain their pictures to you. A 3 year old's scribblings may look most like a series of blobs --- allow them to describe what each of these forms are and praise, praise, and praise them for what they have created!

Talking Points:
-Look! Look at all of the colors that you used! What colors do you see?
-Why did you choose those colors?
-What is your picture about?
-How did you draw that?
-What shapes did you make?
-I see lots of colorful lines here! Look at these lines! (circles, shapes, etc.)

The following is a link of examples and descriptions for what is developmentally appropriate for drawing at different ages and stages.

http://www.learningdesign.com/Portfolio/DrawDev/kiddrawing.html



-In the first picture you can see Ella's early attempts at form drawing. I asked her to draw a picture of her daddy. If you look carefully you can see a face with eyes, nostrils (haha), arms, hands, legs, feet, and a squiggle at the top for hair. Drawing faces without bodies is typical for preschool children. I have not attempted to have her draw a body because she has expressed no interest in adding those details yet. She is most interested in adding details to the face; sometimes ears, bows, teeth, etc.