Have you ever said “Wow, this is so beautiful!” about a piece of artwork your young child proudly shows you all the while wondering “What in the world is it supposed to be?” You are not alone! Most parents face the dilemma of trying to interpret what appears to be just scribbles on a page. However, that indecipherable collection of colors, shapes, and marks is actually the beginning of an exciting stage of development for your little one. This exploration is the foundation for learning to write. Drawing and writing lead to increased communication and understanding of how the world works and their place in it.
According to Zero to Three, there are five stages of drawing and writing that you may see as your child grows from 15 months old to 3 years old.
Stage 1: Random Scribbling (15 months to 2½ years). They are just figuring out that they are making the lines and scribbles on the paper.
Stage 2: Controlled Scribbling (2 years to 3 years). Their scribbles become more controlled. They love the way crayons, markers, play-doh, and paper smell and feel (and taste, so keep watch!).
Stage 3: Lines and Patterns (2½ years to 3½ years). They realize that their drawing conveys meaning. They may draw a sun and then tell you about it.
Stage 4: Pictures of Objects or People (3 years to 5 years). Symbolic thinking skills are present when he draws to convey meaning. They have a story to tell and then draws it.
Stage 5: Letter and Word Practice (3 to 5 years). They create content to communicate thoughts.
What can parents do to prepare their child for writing?
As with most development, parents must understand that all children develop at their own pace. Pushing a child to master a skill before they are ready could have negative consequences. However, providing opportunities to explore materials, strengthen fine motor skills, unleash imaginations, and learn through play is the perfect way for a parent to support an emergent writer. According to Donna Whittaker (VP of curriculum and education at Big Blue Marble Academy), “Young children can build muscles by manipulating small objects, drawing, scribbling, painting, smearing, playing with Play-Doh, scooping, pouring and squeezing,”
Kid Sense offers these additional tips for strengthening your child’s fine motor skills:
- Threading or lacing with a variety of sized laces.
- Scissor projects that involve cutting.
- Tongs or teabag squeezers to pick up objects.
- Drawing or writing on a vertical surface.
- Activities that require finger strength such as opening containers and jars.
- Practice drawing the pre-writing shapes (l, —, O, +, /, square, \, X, and Δ).
- Finger games that practice specific finger movements such as Incy wincy Spider.
- Craft: Make things using old boxes, egg cartons, wool, paper, and sticky or masking tape.
- Construction: Building with Duplo, Lego, Mobilo, or other construction toys.
As adults we should encourage and support a child’s attempts above the finished product. Try saying, “I love all the colors you used” or “Tell me about your picture” rather than “What is this?” or criticizing work.
If you have concerns that your child is experiencing difficulty meeting any developmental milestones, speak with a pediatrician who can properly assess your child’s development.
Written by: Heather Reister, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Butler County
Reviewed by: Roseanne Scammahorn, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension Darke County.
Sources:
Borst, H, (2021), How Children Learn to Wrote, https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/articles/how-children-learn-to-write
Learning to write and draw (2017), https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/learning-to-write-and-draw/
HealthyChildren.org, https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/find-pediatrician/Pages/Pediatrician-Referral-Service.aspx
Writing Readiness (Pre-Writing) Skills, Kid Sense. https://childdevelopment.com.au/areas-of-concern/writing/writing-readiness-pre-writing-skills/
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