Drawing with kids!
Yes! It’s what we want all one to six year old kids to be doing with their parents and carers!
And why?
Research points to the importance of drawing for child development and school readiness.
Drawing is both a precursor to writing (a series of drawing patterns) and a communication tool for a child’s expression of ideas and identity.
Drawing helps children to develop the fine motor skills they need to write as well as visual skills and memory skills, which are also used for handwriting.
When done with an engaged adult, drawing also presents a wonderful opportunity to bond, for fun and play with your child, for language development and to teach your child about the world (colours, shapes, emotions).
Inspiring parents to draw with children
Through workshops and drawing activity books, Squiggle Kids aims to inspire shared drawing activities between parents and children.
We aim to give parents the knowledge, skills and ideas to stimulate and extend drawing at home. Our drawing books encourage kids to draw and build confidence drawing.
See below for more on our workshops and to see upcoming workshops.
For more on our drawing books and to purchase online, see here.
Drawing: a key early literacy activity
On Thursday 8 September, the Squiggle Kids team gave a talk for International Literacy Day.
Hear (and see through original children’s pictures) why drawing is a key literacy activity for young children and get some tips and ideas for engaging your child in drawing activities at home.
Scribble: it's more than meets the (adult) eye!
There’s nothing more memorable than your child’s first tadpole person or the first time your child draws their family?
But what comes before is also really important – scribble – and, in fact, if you look closely you may be able to see your child progress through different stages of scribble.
In this video, the Squiggle Kids team talk about the different stages of scribble and uses original drawings to demonstrate some of the features of early scribble. We hope you find that there really is more to scribble than “meets the (adult) eye”
Upcoming workshops
Play, learn and grow with drawing
at Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre
Who: Children 2+ to pre-school age, plus a parent/grandparent/carer
When: 10am – 10.45am Fridays starting 30 April 2021
Where: Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre, 157 Union Road, Surrey Hills, Victoria
Tickets:Â book through the Neighbourhood Centre, see here for more information and bookings
Creative Playgroup with Squiggle Kids
at Craig Family Centre
Who: Children 2-5 plus a parent/grandparent/carer
When: 9.30am – 10.15am Tuesdays starting 27 April 2021
Where:Â Craig Family Centre, 7 Samarinda Avenue, Ashburton VIC
Tickets:Â book through the Centre, see here for more information and bookings
Testimonials
As a kid, I always felt bad at drawing. So when my daughter wanted to draw with me I’d suggest she draw with the ‘good drawers’ in the family instead. After speaking to Lauren from Squiggle Kids about drawing, I know how important it is, how good it is to do it together with your child and now I really enjoy drawing with my daughter
Sarah, mum of 1 and step-mum of 2
As a mum, I’ve always felt comfortable reading to my children – and we do that all the time. But… drawing was always a very different story. I never initiated drawing activities with my children and I just kind of hoped they’d enjoy art more than I did. My youngest (he’s five) has never shown any interest in drawing.
Thanks to Squiggle Kids, that’s all changed!
My five year old and I did a Squiggle Kids program and we both loved it. The sessions were planned with remarkable thoughtulness, care and creativity. My son was so engaged and declared multiple times (per session) how much fun he was having. Lauren and Debbie created activities based around his interests and gave him the space to take the lead. His confidence grew during each session and he’d always continue drawing after the day’s session had finished.
Debbie and Lauren, thank you both so much. You’ve helped me to see drawing completely differently and shown me how easy and fun it is to build it into our daily lives.
Thank you!
Susannah, mum of 2