The earlier you encourage drawing/writing, the earlier you will see these stages. 1. As early as 18 months (with your supervision) your child can make MARKS on paper. "You made a Picture!"

he/she is familiar with a "pencil" (something to write with) your excitement encourages more play

2. Scribble Stage

lines	diagonal scribbles	circle scribbles

Comments that help... and encourage the stage they are in, not the one to come: DEAL WITH WHAT YOU SEE

You used a blue crayon... I see a square in your picture ... You worked hard on this... Do you like to draw?... I can draw like you... Will you make one for me?... Can I write your name for you?...
PLEASE DON'T SAY "What is it?"

3. Stages of HOLDING a "pencil" or something to write with

fist

pointed fingers

prehensile grasp

4. Design Stage You will see your child copy the SHAPES around them, including letters and numbers.

Shapes stand alone as pictures	Shapes combine into pictures

This is a good time to ask if you can sign his/her name to the picture.

5. Scribble writing What does a child know about writing?

6. Representational or Recognizable Art

first by ACCIDENT she draws and then says, "Oh, I made a ducky"	then by intention "I'm drawing a face... car, house, dog..."

The PROBLEMS of Modeled Art

The draw a house test
"I know how to draw" and kids see they can't draw like you
When children want you to draw with them, COPY what they draw scribbles, shapes, letters and numbers, color in designs

7. The stages of people drawing

including a normal stage when children add sexual detail

8. Stages of writing

Scribble writing

Symbols

"My Name"

Letters and numbers without names Letters and numbers copied and recognized

Phonetic writing stages

1st letter

phonetic without vowels transitional writing

THE WRITING BIN

Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4
paper
Make It books
file folder for saving art work
crayons	colored pencils	markers	paint box
rubbings	ruler	glue	chalk
doodle designs	stencils	scissors	resist pic.
newspaper	colorwheel	cut up books	colorwheel
scratch pic.	hand/body pic.	1/2 pictures	chalk pic.
Project each month: (plans follow)
LAPBOARD	STENCILS	BINGO	CHALK
MULTICOLOR	WATERCOLOR		BOARD
CRAYON	PAINTBOX

Writing Bin Materials List

Writing Bin is a plastic dish pan LABELED and decorated with permanent marker (so it isn't used for dishes)

Each item that the program supplies is for encouraging writing, hand skills, and cognitive outcomes. You may decide to give one item each month or bundle them. Use the above list as idea starters. Parents might already have them to add to their bin.

		Return to the Top
	Fast Facts on Literacy (Refresh to see another fact) This page http://literacy.kent.edu/Oasis/PACT/section1.html and is maintained by the OLRC . Follow us on