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Promoting coloring and drawing

February 6th, 2010

Parents and caregivers can promote drawing and coloring  as a way to improve physical, social, emotional and cognitive development-and to have a lot of fun along the way too. Here are some suggestions:

The simple acts of drawing and coloring are  literally childs’ play, however, they both play an important role in a child’s physical, emotional and cognitive development. Like no other activity, drawing  and coloring allows young children to express emotions, experience autonomy and build their confidence. 

1.Supply children with nontoxic drawing materials, blank sheets of paper and coloring pages.

2. Model drawing. Show children that you like to draw and color too -  make designs but do not show your children what they  should draw.

3. Encourage all drawing and coloring in efforts by talking about the colors, lines and shapes the child has created.

4. Rather than ask ”What is it?,” say “Tell me all about your lovely drawing”.Asking “What is that?” suggests to the child that s/he has failed to depict what they intended.

5. Talk about concepts like  thin, thick, wide, narrow, dark, light, edge, shape, contour, etc.

6. Display their art on the kitchen fridge, in their room and in places where visitors to your home will see them. Point their artwork out to visitors – the praise they will receive will make them feel proud of their work and will encourage them to draw and color again. 

7. Give children the freedom to choose the subjects of their drawings and of their coloring sheets. For example little girls  may enjoy coloring images of  Barbie and at sites like Barbie Coloring Pages you’ll find the best Barbie pictures to color

Little boys on the other hand tend to prefer images of cars, trucks and machinery – however, favorite characters such as those from Disney movies  are also hits with little boys.

8. Always surpervise younger children while they draw and color – crayons pose a choking hazard.

 

Entry Filed under: Infants