Lately New Kid has been demanding that I make letters on his drawing paper. I think this is from seeing his big brother write, but also he is very interested in identifying letters these days. I didn’t want New Kid to start expecting me to draw for him, I wanted him to explore scribbling.
I stopped making letters and said to New Kid, “let’s do it together!” and then started making crazy noises while scribbling. He thought it was great fun and joined in.
This idea came from Susan Striker’s Young at Art (affiliate link). I couldn’t find the exact quote, but if a child is insisting on the parent producing something recognizable on the page Striker suggests scribbling while making a noise such as “Firetruck! Whooo-weeee-whooooo-weeee!” If you are interested in ways to encourage creativity and the artistic process in your child, I highly recommend Striker’s book. Actually, I view it as essential reading.
Raising a Happy Child says
Great ideas. I wish I followed them more when daughter was a toddler. She is growing up into a little perfectionist.
bioluminescence says
Cool idea! I read the book but missed that. My daughter went through a phase of wanting me to draw Sesame Street characters on everything. Not at all intending to go that way, I finally bought her a Sesame Street coloring book to scribble/sticker in. The pictures are hilarious. That passed and with no more coloring books she's–well, honestly, 3 1/2 and not drawing anything other than circles, but we enjoy painting and doing lots of open-ended crafts.
Steph at ModernParentsMessyKids.com says
Thanks for the useful info., I'm never sure what to do when my son wants me to color for him.
Mom and Kiddo says
@biolum: I think it's possible that I read it in a Q&A with Striker, so that's why I couldn't find it in the book.