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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.
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.
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 :rolleyes:
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 ;) .
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 ;) .
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!
I remember my DH nephew came over to our home when he was 19 months or so, maybe a bit older, but not yet 2. My DD whom was nearly 2 was drawing at her little play desk, he came over and seemed interested in what she was doing...but had no idea what end to hold the pencil up, and didnt know what to do with the pencil when he had it the right way - i felt a bit alarmed, and felt sorry for the boy. I know his mother and i know she would have just thought of the mess it would have created, so obv refrained from introducing drawing etc to him.
Have you got a magna doodle ??? (you can get cute pink ones now)My DD#3 whom is 13 months loves to scribble and draw on the board.....and it doesnt matter how many times she sticks it in her mouth !!!;)
hmmm i haven't pulled the crayons out for a while... but the best thing i bought was an EtchASketch for $1 from the opp shop.... she plays with it quite often and draws and then wipes it clean etc... my DH has taught her her numbers from 1-10 so she can now identify and say the numbers, and we plan on starting with the alphabet as she can sing the ABC's song.... she also tries to draw shapes...
i would highly recommend an etchasketch for encouraging drawing....
I got some crayons for Claire when she was about 12 months, but all she wanted to do was eat them. It took her a couple of months to start drawing with them. We just had to show her how to use them and she also saw the other kids at daycare use them too, so she learnt from that pretty quickly. We recently got her an easel from ikea (for like $26) and she LOVES it.
my DH has taught her her numbers from 1-10 so she can now identify and say the numbers, and we plan on starting with the alphabet as she can sing the ABC's song.... she also tries to draw shapes... OH MY GOD!! Now I do feel stupid - I had no idea kids that young could learn to count! And I'm a teacher! Of course we say things like one, two three... that's about it!!
Anyway back to drawing..I'm not particularly worried - just wondering. I know she'll get the hang of it like all other things they learn. We do have a magna doodle type thing so will pull that out.