Drawing is a natural activity for all children. From infancy, children begin by experimenting with drawing tools and making marks on paper, and as they grow, these marks start taking on meaning.
Drawing for children represents a child’s way of expressing their understanding of the world and all the things that are important to them.
At Kool Kidz our art expression plays a big part in our program but it is simply not only about drawing or painting pretty pictures. Art expression in early childhood education is a progressive learning journey for children to develop fine motor skills, cognitive development, emotional development, plus math and language skills. What your child creates CAN tell a thousand words about their development.
Drawing for Children
Here we delve into the skills children can develop by incorporating art in early childhood.
1. Fine motor skills
Providing children with a variety of tools and materials for art expression helps them to improve their fine motor skills, finger strength, pincher grips, which are all progressive skills to enable them to be able to write.
2. Cognitive development
While art allows a child to be creative and imaginative, their little brains are also beginning to understand the different types of colours, what happens when they mix different colours together, being able to draw and identify patterns, understanding cause and affect (‘If I push down hard with my pencil, the colour will be darker than when I am drawing lightly’) and the ability to develop critical thinking skills as they plan their picture after being given instructions.
3. Emotional development
When children are too young to express themselves verbally about how they are feeling, art is a form of their communication. Their pictures are often exaggerated or out of proportion based on the value they place on objects and how important it is to them eg a house is usually drawn out of proportion and big as a house represents security for them.
4. Math Skills
Math doesn’t just start from prep; it starts much earlier, and art expression allows a child to start developing the knowledge of recognising shapes and sizes they draw and the ability to count and compare.
5. Communication and self expression
Spend time to discussing their picture to develop their language skills. This enables children to express their ideas verbally one on one or in a group environment. Self-expression is learned and can be developed gradually with practice.
Provide your child with a blank piece of paper, tools and material and let their imagination go wild and see for yourself the many developmental skills your child is learning as they draw or paint their picture.
At Kool Kidz, we have a team of qualified educators who deliver our Kool Beginnings Curriculum to children. This specially designed curriculum has 11 Learning Blocks, including Art Expression, where children with a variety of drawing equipment and encouragement to explore and creatively express themselves.
Contact our friendly team today for information on our Sessional Kindergarten or Long-Day Care Services.