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Helping children enjoy drawing - Extra activities - Educatall

Helping children enjoy drawing

For some children, drawing is an enjoyable activity that they never get bored with. They can regularly be seen with a crayon or marker in their hands, ready to explore their creativity and produce yet another masterpiece. For others, drawing represents a waste of time. They dislike the fact that they must remain seated and that their fingers represent the only body part that is required to move.

 

As simple as drawing may seem, it helps children evolve over time towards the prerequisites involved in writing once they reach elementary school.

 

Before a child can properly hold a pencil and trace letters between two lines, his/her drawing methods and techniques will slowly change. A one year old can use a pencil to scribble on a large piece of paper. Slowly, basic characters will appear such as a figure with a head and arms, but no body. This simple drawing will continue to evolve until it becomes a complete character with all its body parts.

 

Many people provide only a pencil and a piece of paper. However, a wide range of material is available. Making use of it can spark an interest in drawing and writing. Here are a few ideas that can be experimented with your group:

 

1-2 year olds:
*It is recommended that you begin using pencils with very young children (10-12 months), but constant supervision is necessary.

  • Let children scribble as they wish.
  • Offer very large pieces of paper.
  • Offer large crayons that are easy for little hands to hold (waxed crayons, bingo markers, animal-shaped crayons, finger crayons, etc.).
  • Use Jell-O to paint with your fingers. Encourage children to draw lines using one finger at a time.
  • Provide large pieces of dark cardboard or construction paper along with large paintbrushes. Let children dip the paintbrushes in water to "paint" for a mess-free activity.

2-3 year olds:

  • Stick pieces of paper on a wall and invite children to draw on them in a standing position. This activity develops shoulder stability.
  • Provide a wide range of painting and drawing tools (toothbrushes and paint, feathers and paint, Popsicle sticks, etc.).
  • Print coloring pages with very large shapes and encourage children to try to stay between the lines.
  • Draw vertical, horizontal, and circular lines. Invite children to do the same.
  • Use your hands to paint on very large pieces of paper. Have children use one finger to trace shapes and designs.
  • Purchase a dry-erase board. Children love erasing and drawing over and over again.

3-4 year olds:

  • Provide a variety of materials such as shaving cream on a mirror, flour in a plate, foaming bath paint, etc.
  • Spread a thick layer of paint on a piece of paper and invite children to draw designs and shapes.
  • Provide large pieces of paper and a variety of tools. Encourage them to trace the contour of their hand.
  • Draw simple shapes and invite children to do the same.
  • Draw several dots on a piece of paper and have children connect them by drawing lines between them.
  • Gradually decrease the size of the paper that you offer. Children will learn to work in a more limited space.
  • Provide paper with different textures.

4-5 year old:

  • Write letters on a piece of paper and encourage children to try to write them too.
  • Write a child's name on a piece of paper and invite him/her to try to write it on his/her own.
  • Offer smaller crayons and show children how to hold them properly. Make a mark on the crayons to show them where to place their fingers.
  • Draw a path on a piece of paper and have children draw a line in the centre of it. Slowly decrease the width of the paths you draw.
  • Begin a simple drawing (flower, sun, house, etc.) and let children complete it.

As you can see, with a little imagination, it is easy to encourage children to draw.

 

Children who dislike having to remain seated can be invited to draw in a standing position. You can also create an obstacle course throughout which children are encouraged to draw at various stations.

 

Just a few years after their first scribble, children will be writing letters and numbers. For this reason, drawing plays an important role in childhood development, one that maximizes children's chances for success in school!

 

Maude Dubé
Early childhood educator


Educatall.com is not responsible for the content of this article. The information mentioned in this article is the responsibility of the author. Educatall.com shall not be held responsible for any litigation or issues resulting from this article.

 

 

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