Why are scribbling, drawing and writing activities good for kids?

Drawing and scribbling lay the foundations for handwriting. Handwriting starts with scribbling and drawing and then moves on to forming letters and words.

You can encourage your child to develop an interest in handwriting by giving them plenty of opportunities to scribble, draw and write. This prepares your child for the formal handwriting they’ll learn at school.

Handwriting is a complex skill that takes time to learn. To learn handwriting, children need to combine fine motor skills, language, memory and concentration. They also need to practise and follow instructions.

What you need for scribbling, drawing and writing activities

Set up your child at a table with some chunky crayons, chalk, pencils or markers, as well as some paper or card.

It’s best for your child to draw and write sitting at a table. The stable, flat surface can make it easier for your child to draw, and it also encourages your child to hold the crayon or pencil correctly. You can put a cushion on your child’s chair so that your child’s elbows are just above the height of the table.

How to do drawing, scribbling and writing activities with your child

Here are ideas for making the most of drawing, scribbling and writing activities with your child.

Have drawing materials handy so that your child can draw and scribble any time. You can even take materials with you when you go out.
Let your child decide what to draw or write. Any practice your child gets holding a crayon or pencil and drawing pictures, lines or circles can help with learning to write.
Talk with your child about their drawing or writing. For example, ‘Tell me about your picture’.
Praise your child’s efforts, even if their ‘writing’ or ‘drawing’ is more like scribble. For example, ‘Well done! That looks like an ‘M’ and a ‘W’. Great writing’.
Encourage your child to sign their work, even if it’s just the first letter of their name or a scribble. Then write your child’s name underneath so they get used to seeing it.
Display your child’s work. For example, put it on the fridge and point it out to people who visit.

How to adapt these activities for children of different ages

Younger children

Make sure your child has thick chunky crayons to draw with while they develop the finger and thumb grip needed to hold a thin pencil.

Older children

Encourage your child to write words to go with a drawing. For example, your child might want to write a story or write people’s names underneath their pictures.
If your child is just learning to write, ask whether they want to write a letter or help you write the shopping list.

How to adapt these activities for children with diverse abilities

Children whose language skills are still developing

Talk about what you and your child are drawing. For example, you could name the shapes that your child is drawing.
Ask your child open-ended questions to encourage conversation. For example, ‘Wow, I like that squiggly line! What could that be?’

Children with a lot of energy

Encourage your child to take breaks to move their body. They could try slow, calm movements like stretching or big, fast movements like jumping.

Children who have difficulty with fine motor skills

Give your child large grip crayons that are easier to hold or large paint brushes and bigger paper.
Use clips, Blu-Tack or masking tape to stick the paper to an easel or a wall. It might be easier for your child to scribble or draw upright instead of on a flat table.
Encourage your child to tell you what they want to draw, and you can draw for or with them.

Children who have difficulty with social interaction

This activity can be a great way for your child to play alongside others rather than face to face. They can focus on the drawing and still be close to others.

You can get more ideas for adapting this activity from our articles on play and autistic children and play and children with disability. You might also like to explore our other activity guides. They can all be adapted to suit children with diverse strengths and abilities.