This isn't an average 8 year olds drawing is it??

[delilabell]

I'm bad at art always have been. But we are worried about dds development in several ways including fine motor skills.
Shes proudly just created this and I'm so chuffed for her but it's not average is it?

No it’s not. What’s her writing like?

Bums I was hoping it was.
Her writing can be very neat. Shes not got her pen license yet (don't agree with them but trying to use it to show that she's not seen as to standard)

Well, it's massively better than the average 5 year old's drawing (I have a whole teatowel of these here for easy reference!) so she's making progress.

This is some of her writing. Her spelling isn't good if she writes by herself but she can learn a list of spellings (but can't really retain them)
Can't retain maths skills like timetable tables well either which school admits but they aren't pushing for help for her

It’s very similar to ones my 8 year old son does, but he has been diagnosed with ASD and dyspraxia.

Her writing is much more neat than my son’s

I wouldn’t say so, sorry. Her writing looks about right though and, if it helps, I’m not sure I could draw any better and I’m 34!

Her writing is INCREDIBLY neat

My 8yo's drawing is better, but her writing is worse.

Drawing perhaps not average, but her handwriting is very good, above average I would say.

She might just not be particularly talented artistically.

I’m 36 and my drawing really isn’t much better. I have never been able to draw. I wouldn’t say it means anything. FWIW My spelling was also terrible and my handwriting isn’t that neat either. But I am intelligent and I’m successful so I don’t worry. Children just have different skills.

How is she with things like riding a bike or swinging?

I was like DD at her age. Something fixed itself in brain and my handwriting and drawing is now superb, prob cos I spent so much time practicing.

Better than mine would have done at 8 (tbh probably better than he’d do at 16!) but the writing is much neater. He’s dyslexic and struggles with fine motor skills generally (very good with gross motor skills / sports etc though). He’s doing fine academically but fair to say his strengths don’t lie in art or technical areas!

I think it's okay to be honest! She's probably never going to be an artist but.
I'd say my drawing is not much better than that, honestly!

Where it says daddy? It is neat, but wouldn't meet expectations for end of Y3 as it's not joined. Most children who are taught handwriting properly (which they should be as it's a NC2014 objective) have neat handwriting in Y3 nowadays.

I actually don't think the picture is miles off OP. As I think you're aware, it's not the picture of an able artist but there are many Y3s who produce similar pictures. Have you tried TTRS for times tables? It really does work.

Out of interest, what does bike riding/swinging ability suggest?

Ime drawing skills vary massively at this age and this is still well within the range (I work in a primary school). Maybe not rhetorical next Van Gogh but there is a reasonable amount of detail and the handwriting is neat. Don't see an issue here

I was going to say have a look at dysgraphia, until I saw the writing.

I think there is a contrast between the drawing and writing that is worth exploring.

Does she choose to draw/colour/write? Or does she avoid everything and anything like that?

Also, art is a skill, and can be taught. We have some amazing paintings done by (dysgraphic and dyslexic) DS1 in the 2 years school decided to employ an art teacher to cover PPA. He hasn't produced anything near that standard since!

No, but my drawing never progressed much beyond that and I have science based Alevels and a degree. Neither of my DC can draw, but both got decent exam results and are doing well in their chosen careers.

The drawing isn't great, but the handwriting is better than most children in my Year 6 class!

Difficulty with bike riding, hand writing and tying laces etc could suggest dyspraxia. I'm not sure what swinging refers to.

I cannot draw anything!! I’m perfectly competent and able at many other things but there isn’t an artistic bone in my body. She could just be not great at drawing.
I think the not retaining things is more of an issue. There can be developmental issues where retaining things like maths and spelling is hard due to lack of development in part of the brain. May be worth exploring thus if you’re worried. I wouldn’t worry about the drawing!

It’s absolutely fine! Lovely writing. If she’s on track at school don’t give it a thought, it’s completely fine. God, what are other people’s little Picassos drawing? Let’s see!

Thank you. More asking for my own child there so won’t go on here, as it’s not fair to derail the op’s thread. Appreciate understanding that a bit more though.

I assumed swinging in this context meant being able to self propel on a swing at park.