Scribble, Draw, Write
Scribbling is FUN!
Reading and writing go together. Both are ways to represent spoken words and to communicate information or tell stories. Children become aware that printed letters stand for spoken words as they see print used in their daily lives. They see parents and others read newspapers, food labels, road signs, and mail. They watch caregivers write lists, jot down reminders, or make notes on a calendar.
Children develop a knowledge of the purpose and meaning of reading through writing.
Once your child can grasp a thick crayon or marker, give him or her unlined paper and plenty of opportunities to draw and write.
Talk to your child about what he or she draws, ask questions, and respond to what your child says. You also can make up a story to go with the drawing. As children scribble and draw, they practice eye-hand coordination and exercise the muscles in their fingers and hands. This helps develop the fine motor control they need to write letters and words.
Encourage your children to “sign” their name on their drawings. Even if this begins as a scribble, children learn that they can write something that represents their name. Later your child will write the initials of his or her first and last name and then the complete name.
Ask your child to label parts of his or her drawings. This also helps your child understand that letters and words stand for things.
Check out the Art bilingual backpack to explore scribbling, drawing and writing together!
Here are some books to enjoy:
Mouse paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
I ain’t gonna paint no more! by Karen Beaumont; illustrated by David Catrow
This blog entry was written by Yolo County Library’s Family Literacy specialist, Letty Flores. Thank you, Letty!
