I still have the first recognizable representational drawings that each of my kids did. They are among my most treasured possessions. One of my kids did a wonderful "family portrait" when he was about six. It is a sunshiny day and we are all smiling and holding hands. It is a line drawing with colored pencils, but it is amazing how much joy is in that drawing. It is framed and hanging in my kitchen where I see it every day.
I like the idea of markers. I did try to let her draw and she just took the paper and took off into the kitchen with it. She just loves to play with paper. I figure if I keep trying, eventually she'll get it, right?
No, I don't think so. It was one of those huge threads a while back. In it she explained how her MIL was a welfare fraud and had claimed to want to buy a bond for her new grandkid (as a pretext to ger the kid's SS# for fraudulent purposes). In the same explanation, she said that her kids are STILL waiting for their Christmas presents. Now that was a while ago, so maybe there has been a Christmas or two since then when her MIL did buy presents. That may be what she means.
There is a lovely book that was around when my children were little called something like "Bringing Out the Artist in Your Child." I do not know if it is still in print, but it had a bunch of great suggestions for kids up to the age of about seven. One of the things that stuck with me is that when you are drawing or coloring with your kid, do not make masterpieces even if you are a pretty good artist....play with lines, colors, etc. A kid, particularly one with a perfectionist streak, will notice that hers are not as good as yours and may shut down or insist that "you draw it, Mama." When they are a little older, you can start showing them how to represent certain things, but when they are little, just playing with color and form is important. If you can stand it, fingerpaints are also good at about fifteen months. I always let them fingerpaint in the high chair and then just hosed the whole thing off, sometimes kid included.
They have a lot of great markers now too. Washable ones. And the Color Wonder ones are pretty neat-- although they're kind of weird because they take a couple seconds to show up.
Now if only they made ones that put the caps back on themselves.
Most kids consider the ability to make a mark almost magical and delight in it. However, first they have to realize the possibility. Sit next to her. take a marker, make a dot and a line on the paper. Put the marker in her hand, and gently guiding her, make another mark. Do this a few times, then repeat after a few days. Eventually she will realize that SHE can make a mark, and she will be off.
I HATED washable markers! Because they get all over the kids' hands, and smudge for a long time and they are not very satisfactory as artistic tools. I just made sure they only used the markers under direct supervision until they were old enough to know what damage they could do.
Pages
Pregnancy & Parenting Message Boards
Yeah well, that's just, ya know, like, your opinion, man-The Big Lebowski
Make sure you get the "washable" markers, not all markers are washable...make sure that at this age, the package actually says "washable".
PumpkinAngel
They have a lot of great markers now too. Washable ones. And the Color Wonder ones are pretty neat-- although they're kind of weird because they take a couple seconds to show up.
Now if only they made ones that put the caps back on themselves.
Pages