Scribbling and freehand drawing are necessary steps towards well-formed handwriting and advanced thinking skills.
Toddlers scribble by instinct
The next time you come across another coffee table defaced by your toddler, consider this: Toddlers have a compulsive urge to leave their mark on tables and walls in the form of wiggles and dots! As their motor skills are still weak, the doodling of children under two stem from a need to release energy, with only limited control over their "artwork".
By age three, doodling becomes more purposeful, with repeated lines or circles. With practice and a growing ability to focus longer, the coordination between visual and motor skills improves. At this stage, he is still unaware of the art creation process. His work may look haphazard and formless, but this is actually the beginning of an in-built desire to draw.
Preschoolers draw their thoughts
Between the ages three to five, the fingers and wrist improve in muscular strength. There is also better hand-eye coordination - all of which set the stage for the next step - dealing with a specific subject matter. This is an important milestone in your child's mental development - the ability to make a connection between his thoughts and his doodling.
Drawings become a means of communication, a language by itself. He begins to be interested in forms and design. Gradually, his drawings change from the abstract to the symbolic. Whatever he experiences and visually observes are now linked and expressed symbolically (though still in dots and lines). He is able to communicate his object to you. Often, he may talk as he draws, to compensate for his inadequacy in art, and also a means to relate his internal thoughts and emotions to the external environment.
On Friday, our preschoolers sat down to draw; we asked them what they created.
Our Young and Older Toddlers have many preferred morning activities; but by far, their favorite is Easel Art!
Why We Easel Art:
1. An easel is a large, inviting, exciting space that encourages creativity and free thinking. Compared to sitting at a table, or bending over a piece of paper, working at an easel feels free of rules and strict ways something must be done.
2. Working at an easel builds valuable muscle groups that are essential for children as they begin to develop writing skills. Large muscle groups develop first. The large motions and working with arms extended out in front of them, build up these muscles and prepare them for smaller fine motor skills, writing and hand control.
3. Drawing, scribbling, writing, painting at an eye-level perspective is important. It is more similar to how children see the world.
Easel Art by Young Toddler Tair
Easel Art by Young Toddler Classroom
Easel Art by Young Toddler Audrey
Easel Art by Young Toddler Orr
Easel Art by Young Toddler Tair
"Humpty Dumpty" Easel Art by Older Toddler Sophia
"Humpty Dumpty" Easel Art by Older Toddler Sophia
"Humpty Dumpty" Easel Art by Older Toddler Yael
"Humpty Dumpty" Easel Art by Older Toddler Yael
"Humpty Dumpty" Easel Art by Older Toddler Omer
This week, Yal-Day-New played host to three Israeli educators visiting the United States!
Yesterday, alongside their Israeli visitors, Executive Director, Lindsay Harvey and Toddler Teacher, Rebecca Hassan, had the opportunity to visit three Jewish Early Education Centers as well as the Orchard House (home of Louisa May Alcott), the Concord Public Library and the Discovery Museum in Acton.
The group was eager to meet and speak with Governor Deval Patrick and Thomas Weber, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, regarding the importance of Jewish Early Education.
Today, after Executive Director, Lindsay Harvey, and Toddler Teacher, Abigail Bartalini, accompanied their Israeli visitors on a tour of the Perkins School of the Blind, the staff and students of Yal-Day-New welcomed the Israeli visitors with a delicious Kosher lunch and tour!
The Israeli visitors were kind enough to lead a dancing activity for the Preschool and Older Toddler Classrooms! They played Hebrew music and handed out Israeli flags for the students to dance with! It was an educational - and fun - experience for all!
To show their appreciation, the students created a book of art work for their visitors, entitled: "Welcome to Boston!"
Thank you for visiting! We hope you enjoyed Yal-Day-New! Come again!
