"Look what I draw!"

One of the most important ways that children tune in to their creativity is by experimenting with art materials.  Their art and writing change and become more controlled and complex as they grow. Random scribbling (15months to 2 1/2yrs.) is the period when young children are just figuring out that their movements result in the lines and scribbles they see on the page.  These scribbles are usually the result of large movements from the shoulder, with the crayon or marker held in the child’s fist.Controlled scribbling (2 to 3 yrs.) as children develop better control over the muscles in their hands and fingers, their scribbles begin to change and become more controlled.  Toddlers may make repeated marks on the page—open circles, diagonal, curved, horizontal or vertical lines.  Over time, they make the transition to holding the crayon or marker between their thumb and pointer finger. In our class we have noticed these changes! The children have been using the markers more frequently and we are now able to distinguish each individual child's art. Now we can even ask some of them what they are drawing and they can now tell us partially of what they are making. Most are even proud of their art and bring it to the teacher saying "Look what I draw!"