Drawing Development

Early Years Stages of Drawing Development

 

            Each child is able to grow as an artist. Children go through visible stages of artistic growth, reflecting the increase muscular control and rapid cognitive development. Drawing of course, is only one of many art forms that can be used to analyze and define a child’s linguistic ability. It reflects the cognitive growth that is necessary for them to become writers. Drawing is an important form of thinking and communication for children in the early years. At first children may be aimlessly marking up paper with a variety of lines and colours. Overtime they begin to repeat and vary the marks that they have made previously. During this period, it shows the child becoming comfortable with the drawing tools, refining their control over the direction and types of lines they can produce.

 

 

Presented below are the developmental stages of child art;

 

Age	Stage	Characteristic
2-4 years	Scribbling
A.      1- 2 ½ years	Random Scribbling	-Random lines are made using the whole arm, while tool is held with the whole hand   -Lines may extend beyond the paper
B.      2 ½ -3 years	Controlled Scribbing	-Begins to use wrist motions   -Stays on paper, makes smaller marks   -Controls where lines are placed
C.      3- 4 ½ years	Named Scribbles	-Holds tool with fingers   -Can make many different lines and shapes   -Name scribbles, but often changes name
4 ½ - 7 years	Pre-Schematic	-Develops a set of symbols to represent concepts   -May not resemble or be in proportion to real objects   -Learns pictures communicate to others
7 - 9 years	Schematic	-Drawing shows concept, not real images   -Baseline and skyline appear   -X-ray drawings appear

 

What Do They Learn in Each Stage?

Scribbling

            Physical Development

• Hand-eye coordination
• Fine and gross muscle development
• Hand manipulation
  Language

• Naming or labelling
• Conversation (with peers, parents, and educators)
  Guidance

• Self-confidence
• Independence
• Initiative
• Enjoyment
  Pre-Schematic
              With the skills above they are additionally developing

• Observation
• Thinking
• Problem solving
• Feelings of competence
   
   
   
   
  Schematic

            Children will be developing skills that are important for art, science and mathematics

• Trial and error
• Patterns
• Shapes
• Numbers
• Interpretation

 

 

What Are the Parent’s and Educator’s Role?

Parents and educators are encouraged  to allow children to scribble. Children need proper materials that will provide them with easy control. Crayons, non-toxic markers, and pencils, are a few examples of mediums that can be used. Communication is a strong factor when it comes to children who are beginning to scribble. For example, a child who has only begin to scribbling, parents and educators can make comments on the child’s movement rather than the artwork itself. Comment on how fast the child’s arms are moving or how big the child’s movements are. As the child gains more control of their scribbling, talk about the variety of moments and different marks that the child has made. When the child starts to name their scribbles, it is encouraged to ask open ended questions that will help them to verbalize their thoughts, feelings and experiences.

 

 

For more information please visit:

http://www.artjunction.org/young_in_art.pdf

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=546