Early Writing Skills: Child Development in Artistic Development
When your child scribbles, he or she is not just trying to provide you with something fabulous to frame – they are actually developing what will eventually be their writing skills…
Around 9-12 months of age, a preference for left or right hand begins to emerge in children. They begin picking up objects with the “Palmar grasp,” or whole hand. After they master the Palmar, toddlers transition to the “pincer grasp,” which is holding objects with the thumb and index finger. Soon, a child in this stage will be able to hold an artistic instrument (marker or paintbrush etc.).
It’s important to allow for practice with these fine motor skills. Creating art with your toddler will lead to healthier development in building writing skills later in life.
The Circular Squiggler: Beginning around 14 months old, the picture shown (above left), illustrates light and dark squiggles and swirls all in a circular motion. A child in this stage is gaining control over his or her hand movements. It was once believed that children learned to read before they learned to write. However, did you know that literacy is emergent and detected in even the youngest child’s scribbles?
The Symbol Stage: Around 3 or 4 years old, drawings progress from circular squiggles to objects, 
which have representational form. Allow your child to describe what the objects are, if he or she chooses to tell you. Try not to guess what the picture is yourself. In this stage, your child may begin to tell a story about his or her picture. Your child is now a verbal story teller!
The Labeler: Around 4 and 5, some children begin writing their names and incorporate letters, which are sounded out to represent the picture, which has been drawn. He or she will use beginning consonants and final consonants and will begin reading the words and verbally tells a story using them!
It’s important to allow your child to be creative with his or her art to make way for learning choices and responsibility as well as working on those emergent literacy skills.
*Images courts of PBS.org
Join us for Summer Toddler Art!
I lead a toddler art class here at the Georgia State Railroad Museum, and have tons of fun socializing with parents and their little ones. It’s incredible to see the creative juices flowing as toddlers work on early writing skills.
The next toddler art 8-week session begin July 15, and is held in the Georgia State Railroad Museum kids’ car on Friday mornings at 10am (with the exception of July 29, which will be held at 2pm).
Join us with your wee one in this creative discovery time.
Call or email us to register now for summer classes—space is limited!
$100 for all eight classes or $12.50 per class.
Advanced registration required:
Call 912-651-6823 x3 or email us at info@chsgeorgia.org
Home Connections
With stormy weather predicted most of this week, I’m including a second art project for your caged little lions, in lieu of a book recommendation. Enjoy and don’t forget to come back and post your comments here!
Painting with Ice Cubes
You will need:
- Ice cube tray
- Popsicle sticks
- Wax paper or aluminum foil
- Liquid water color, food coloring, or paint (if using thick tempura paint, add some water)
- Paper
Steps to follow:
- Pour paint or food coloring and water in ice cube trays.
- Cover tray with wax paper or aluminum foil.
- Insert popsicle sticks in each cube section.
- Freeze completely.
- Pop the cubes out and have your child create a masterpiece using the cubes as brushes.
Allow for expression and keep your mind open to new ideas and new uses of artistic instruments. It may get messy, but after a few baby wipes, you won’t be disappointed.
Marble Painting 
You will need:
- Any cylinder container with a lid
- Marbles (jingle bells & ping pong balls work well too)
- Paper
- Paint
- Spoon
Steps to follow:
- Roll a piece of paper to fit the container.
- Spoon in a small amount of different colored paint.
- Drop in the marbles or round objects.
- Put the lid on and have your child shake the container and roll it on the floor.
Parents of young children, take heed of this artistic creed:
Open-Ended Art Promise
- Emphasize the process of creating, rather than the product.
- Give your child ample time to create.
- Talk about textures, colors, and squiggles.
- Provide a variety of media, different types of brushes and painting instruments (i.e. use a small squeeze ball, toy car wheels, shower squeegee, the list goes on!)
- Model the proper use of materials, but allow your child to create and open your mind to the idea that some materials may have different uses.
- Make clean-up time a part of the artistic process and routine.
- Say, “Will you tell me about that?” rather than “What is that?”
- Display art on your child’s level.
- Share in your child’s pride of the artistic creation’s final product.
- Never underestimate the value of open-ended art.
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