Colouring between the lines...

[BlackCat]

Not really important but I was wondering today, what age to children start to colour in between the lines? Like with purpose?

DS (4) just scribbles, has no interest in colouring anything specific, Im not at all worried about him. Do they just do it on their own or do they require direction? Just curious about when it usually happens? lol.

[RhiChiChi]

Not sure what age but we showed DD how to colour in the lines & for the most part she does (she is 5 yo)

[Floweryfields]

It's not really about being about to colour inside the lines - a child doesn't understnd the concept of a template until they are closer to 5 or 6. You can see the process of development that a child go through with their drawing. Scribbling, then naming their scribbling (you can't see it, but they can) then depicting in some form of shape - often they begin to make circles or lines - so more control over what they are doing. Around 3-4 they begin to represent in forms that both you and the child can see (so people, animals, etc).
You are far better off giving your child plain paper to draw on rather than colouring books.

[LuluHB]

DDs 1 and 2 love colouring in things and drawing their own pictures. DD1 was colouring within the lines probably half way through kindy, so about 4+4. DD2 does what she has always done and fought like ctazy to do what her big sister does, so has been colouring in the lines by 3.5. She is just over 4 and is an incredibly careful colourer and never scribbles, but that is very much reflective of her character. Everything must be neat, and she must use appropriate colours - eg a picture she draws of our dog must be black, Dora must have orange shorts etc

[BlackCat]

Its interesting reading what everyones little ones do.

Thanks Ausgirl that was interesting to note also. DS will draw exactly as you have said, first it was unidentifiable squiggles that he knew what they were and now he can draw with purpose but prefers to squiggle. And colouring is just not his thing lol.

[YoYo]

My boy doesn't.... But he doesn't colour, or draw much at all. He's just not interested at all.

Music is more his 'art' of choice.

[OceanPrincess]

My niece has just started trying, she was four last month. DD (4 in Feb) shows no interest yet.

[Olive]

DD2 (3.5yrs) is trying, does pretty well.
Can't remember when DD1 started

[jackrose]

I think you are right not to be concerned as it depends on each individual child as to whether they like to do things in their own creative way or easily get tied into the convention of following the rules. Enjoy the scribbles! Free expression and experimentation at preschool age is such a short phase and teaches them so much more than following someone else's idea of a picture

Don't encourage him to do anything more the experiment and have fun as what he is doing right now is setting up all the foundation for writing (and creativity) later down the track.

[Calluna]

When DS does drawing I tend to draw with him, otherwise he loses interest very quickly. I draw a picture then color it in and he is just starting to copy me and color in his own pictures (a banana or a triangle) a little, but mostly just scribbles.

[AliBaby]

DD is 3.5 and she tries.

Let me tell you though, it really is an individual thing. Each child has different things that they do with precision. Some kids will alwasy be a bit messy, others absolute perfectionists. I teach year 4 and some of them still don't colour in neatly.

[kelebek]

My boy doesn't.... But he doesn't colour, or draw much at all. He's just not interested at all.

Music is more his 'art' of choice.

What she said. He is more interested in bigger action them sitting and drawing or colouring. He has just started pre-prep, waiting to see what difference that makes. They do 3 craft activities a morning and they said he struggled to get them all done. It wasn't a big deal and part of the reason is that at childcare it is more free play with the option of structured activities ITMS.

[Nai]

I think this is something that interests girls At an earlier age than boys as well, I know friends with boys say that their boys develop that fine motor stuff with colouring and drawing later as their boys are more focused on the gross motor skills.

Dd1 started at 2.5 and was drawing early as well. She is very good at writing, art and doing craft activities. D2 is 3.5 and is starting to colour in and draw recognisable things. It is very much dependant on the individual. Her boy friends who are the same age just scribble and have no interest in colouring in.

[trishalishous]

dd is 2 and tries, but she loves drawing, and we spend around an hour a day colouring, and an hours drawing with chalk n the blackboard

[No.5]

DS has not long ago started colouring between the lines or at least attempting to (he's 4 too).

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

DD1 is trying (4 in Oct) and not doing too badly - you can see where she has tried as she changes color for individual circles or hair etc.
DD2 - loves coloring and drawing but is still very much a scribble girl (2.5)

At kinder (3yr old) i notice a vast difference between all the kids, some can draw gorgeous little people, others are starting to color in the lines and others still just scribble.