Crayons and drawing? What age?

[JordieC]

Just wondering what age your child started being interested in drawing with crayons? I know you can start from about 12 months (which we did). I only bring them out every few days (if that) but DD doesn't really want to draw. She's made a few marks but her fav thing is to put them straight in her mouth.

So when did your bubs show real interest in making marks on the paper (or walls! - ha ha)? I noticed in the blue health book that it is one of the items on the 18month check up.

[fionas]

DD has just started using them 'properly' and she's 14 months. She initially started putting them in her mouth so I put them away for a while and let her get the hang of holding a 'pen' and making squiggles with an Etch A Sketch thingo. Then we brought the crayons out again a few weeks later and she got the hang.

[Ozziehoffy]

I think it depends on the child. There are kiddies at our playgroup who are 19 months and still stuff them in their mouths and chomp them requiring the prompt removal...all gross...lol.

Oskar, well, he thinks the carpet is fun the draw on...ummmm not so we think. He knows what to do, just doesn't want to do it on the paper

[Snacks]

Natty has liked drawing since about 16 months. But yes, they have gone into the mouth as well at times. I just have to keep watching .

[MantaRay]

I don't take much notice of the "milestones" in the health books. My two boys have been so different in achieving them and they are brothers. When you take a whole population there are going to be a whole range of ages that each one is reached.

I think the "eating" crayons thing is more a sign of child that is tactile than anything else. My DS2 loves drawing but still prefers eating crayons to drawing with them. But then he eats anything and everything he can get his hands on. Doesn't mean he won't draw though. He does that too. Usually while eating another crayon .

[luna moth]

It varies SO much! There are some kids I know who are nearly 3 and still just notinterested. Part could be lack of confidence, but I think at least 90% is just not being interested, and expressing their creativity in other ways.
Keep offering them every now and again - they *must* be full of vitamins or something, since so many kids just want to eat them!! Alternatively, if you can handle it, try paint and thick brushes, or shaving cream to muck around with, or playdough. They're all different ways to make marks and manipulate a material, each as valuable as each other.
Good luck! And don't let the blue book rule your life!