Just wanting to know what everyone's sons (and daughters) were doing at age 2.5 years with drawing and writing? My son cant hold pencils/crayons/chalk etc. properly. He draws up/dawn, side to side, in swirls, and also both hands together... We have been writing his name and try to get him to copy buy all he does is squiggles. We also draw circles, squares, triangles etc. trying to get him to copy but again he doesn't. He has a chalk board, pencils/crayons and colouring books/blank paper, all this he got for his 2nd birthday. He plays with them and colours in everyday at his leisure. Is this normal for age, or am I expecting too much for him? He switches between his hands (always has) and he does the same with both. He also has trouble holding his fork/spoon and again switches between his hands. Ill be bring it up with my son's doctor this week too. He isn't a prem-baby and has hit all the other mile stones. I realise that all kids are different and progress to stages at different times, I just want to keep on top of this if it is a problem. Many thanks :)
10 Replies
I think you are expecting too much. If you google drawing development, kids will draw circles first, then people (heads with legs) then they will get more detail, start drawing other things that represent suns rainbows etc, then draw pictures of things happening, scenes. The concept of letters and numbers and lines representing anything will come, as will an interest in drawing and eventually writing. For now just encourage a love of creating and celebrate whatever they do, whether its using the chalkboard or not, it will come.
Thankyou :) This is very helpful :) He loves his chalk board and colouring in. He has just started in the last couple of months drawing in swirls and they are becoming more like a circle everyday
I don't know any kid who can write their name at age 2. I think you are expecting a bit too much. He sounds like he is doing fine and what he is doing is normal. When my daughter started prep there were a few kids who couldn't write their name yet and they were 4/5 and the teachers weren't worried.
Expecting way too much. Many kids don't learn to write their name till 4-6. It takes alot of co-ordination and concentration. At 2 most kids just squiggle. My son was hardly even interested in colouring in till 3.
Thankyou everyone :) Good to know that I'm just overreacting :)
Expecting too much. Most kids don't hold a pencil or crayon properly, or write there name until after 4years old
Can I just offer some more advice, my son has never been into drawing. He is 9, academically very good, but still hates drawing. I also bought copious amounts of colouring books, crayons, pencils from age 2-5, he just never got into it! He loves writing stories, but drawing just isn't his thing, he did like painting though. Also, activities like play dough are really good in developing that strength for writing.
My 3.5 year old only draws squiggles and circles.
Can trace letters ok, but with difficulty.
Many children can't write until they start school. (Or the year before they start school).
You have nothing to worry about.
Definitely expecting too much of him sorry!! My 4 year old is Working on writing his name at kinder, as are all the other kids there. My 2.5 y/o has great pencil grip but can barely draw anything in particular just scribbles. Rather than forcing it on him maybe try some hand strengthening play which will lead to better pencil grip and better writing. Over doing it will probably make him not want to do it
Hes only 2 and a half :) hes fine.
One of my boys was a little freak of nature (lol) and could draw pictures of people and trucks when he was 2.5 but hes a little mini artist and now at 6 years old, hes drawing at a 12 year old level, and my other boy was just scibbling at 2.5 and is now 3.5 and still has no interest in copying his name and only just started drawing shapes to make people.
Don't stress your exoecring waaaay too much! Your child is 100% normal! 2.5 is still a baby :) you can let him practice for fun but you dont even need to worry about it yet at all.