Drawing
Drawing in early childhood education is often underestimated. The benefits extend far beyond fine motor development. Drawing can help children think, observe, communicate, plan, socialise, and understand their world.
Drawing relates to engineering, science and nature, as much as visual arts. Mark making and scribbling is emergent handwriting.
Drawing has no age limits. Babies who are just old enough to grasp a crayon can draw. Children can also use their fingers to draw lines in sand or across a misted window.
The benefits of drawing
The benefits of drawing include:
- creativity
- emergent handwriting
- fine motor development
- imagination
- mental health and wellbeing
- self-expression.
EYLF learning outcomes
Drawing aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework as it:
- supports physical learning (3.2)
- sparks curiosity, creativity, enthusiasm and imagination (4.1)
- provokes confidence, commitment and persistence (4.1)
- involves transfering and adapting learning from one context to another (4.3)
- involves materials (4.4)
- supports children to express their ideas and make meaning (5.3)
- gives children an understanding of symbols and pattern systems (5.4).