​Art Development for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Art was one of my FAVORITE activities as a young child, and it still is! Kids love art because they get to have a bit of control and create something. Art helps kids in so many ways, not only for fun memories, but to reduce stress, learn skills and express themselves in a safe, and wonderful way. 

Parents can plant the seed of love for art in their children by giving them opportunities to create art and making it fun.

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Although every child is different, there are certain "art" stages that children go through. Understanding those stages help us teach our children in a way that develops their art skills, and more importantly, fosters their love for art and creativity. 
 
I call the first art stage Scribblers, because around two years old children start to practice the kinesthetic movement of scribbling and continue to develop scribbles into their first shape, a circle.

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One of my child's first scribbles

 Around 2-3 years children create circles

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Then you begin to see the first shapes coming together, creating different forms including people, which is often drawn as a circle with strait lines for appendages. They are pretty darn cute, if you ask me.

By around 4-5 years old children, will be able to draw a version of just about everything, sometimes you can tell what it is and sometimes it is better to ask the child to explain what they created.

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My daughters first people drawing, "it's me!" 

My sons drawing of fishies!  Could you tell they are fish?

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Children continue developing their fine motor skills, like holding pencils, cutting with scissors, folding paper and using glue as they grow and mature.
 
By the end of this stage, around age 5-6, scribblers have turned into doodlers and are capable of creating more sophisticated, and creative art pieces.

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The fishes are now more recognizable and look at the designs added with the lines. This child is now in the doodler stage. 

My daughters drawing. Objects are recognizable and character is added to her work. Notice the grass on the ground is at the bottom of the paper and the top of the paper is the sky. Kids start recognizing that objects have locations. This is in the doodle stage. 

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What art projects are appropriate for Scribblers?
 
Process art lessons are a great way to teach kids that art is fun by letting kids be creative without a formal lesson. Kids at this stage just love to  create!

Process Art lesson I do with pre-schoolers. They tare pieces of tissue paper, lay it down on the paper and paint watered down glue over the top. 

If an art project looks fun check if it is appropriate for scribblers by asking these questions:

1. Does it have them work on one skill at a time?​ Too many skills can easily overwhelm a scribbler.
2. Can I simplify it? If you can, it is probably too hard, so simplify it. Too many steps can be overwhelming to them. 
3. Will it take longer than 15 minutes? Children at this stage have extremely short attention spans. Try keeping projects under 15 minutes to keep them interested in art in the future.

 

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So what can a Scribbler do? 

Here are some tasks they can do, to give you an idea...

•  They can color something with scribbles.
•  They can learn to fold an envelope, but not a snowflake.
•  They can paint, but not really anything recognizable.
•  They can cut with toddler scissors. Usually short choppy lines, but not circles. 
• They can trace around simple objects.
• They can use sponges and stamps. 
• They can use glue with supervision.

 The Focus of Art at this stage should be.
-Learn basic supplies
-Learn  care of supplies
-How to prepare for messes
-Being creative but with supervision
-Learn fine motor skills
-Experiments are fun
-Learn some self control
-Learn colors, lines, & shapes
-Learn art is awesome!

I hope this helps you better understand art development for your child so you can choose developmentally appropriate projects that will encourage and plant the seed of love for art in their heart. 

Art has certainly been a large part of my life and gives me so much joy. I hope that all children can experience the same joy.

Part of this site is dedicated to Scribblers,  you can find developmentally appropriate projects, supplies, and fun stuff just for them! Come check it out!