14/05/2025
Here’s a breakdown of developmentally appropriate activities by age/stage to support drawing in young children, from toddlers through early elementary.
Why??
“A new theory on children’s drawings: Analyzing the role of emotion and movement in graphical development"
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274085728_A_new_theory_on_children%27s_drawings_Analyzing_the_role_of_emotion_and_movement_in_graphical_development
Toddlers (1–2 years)
Focus: exploration, large movements, grasp development
Activities:
• Crayon scribbling on large paper taped to a table or floor
• Chalk drawing on sidewalks or chalkboards
• Finger painting or painting with chunky brushes
Skill Focus: Builds shoulder and arm strength, introduces cause and effect, and supports palmar grasp development.
Preschool (3–4 years)
Focus: basic shapes, controlled strokes, developing tripod grasp
Activities:
• Draw lines, circles, and crosses with crayons or markers
• Connect-the-dot activities (basic shape outlines)
• Tracing over paths, roads, or mazes
Skill Focus: Improves motor control, eye-hand coordination, and awareness of shape/form.
Pre-K to Kindergarten (4–5 years)
Focus: copying shapes, drawing people, imaginative drawing
Activities:
• Copying simple shapes (square, triangle, X) on paper or whiteboards
• Draw-a-face activities or simple body parts on gingerbread outlines
• “Finish the picture” prompts (e.g., complete the house, add arms to the snowman)
Skill Focus: Builds spatial awareness, planning, and sequential stroke control.
Kindergarten to 1st Grade (5–6 years)
Focus: drawing recognizable forms, using drawing for storytelling
Activities:
• Directed drawing prompts (e.g., step-by-step how to draw a cat)
• Story drawing – draw a picture to match a sentence or story
• Shape-based drawing games – create pictures out of basic shapes
Skill Focus: Encourages visual memory, planning, and creative expression.
1st–2nd Grade (6–8 years)
Focus: more detail, perspective, and scene-building
Activities:
• Draw your classroom or bedroom (introduce spatial layout)
• Comic strip drawing – tell a short story in 3 boxes
• Still life sketching – simple objects like fruit or toys
Skill Focus: Refines visual motor integration, supports writing readiness, and builds confidence in self-expression.
