Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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

196 replies

delilabell · 27/05/2024 19:52

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?

This isn't an average 8 year olds drawing is it??
OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
Roastiesarethebestbit · 27/05/2024 20:18

Her writing is better than my sons was at that age. And I reckon his drawings were about the same. He’s academically above average, but not top of the class. He’s just not remotely artistic. My daughter’s handwriting and drawings are better than his and she’s 3 years younger. But not as bright as him in other areas. A slightly rubbish drawing wouldn’t be giving me massive cause for concern.

LadyKenya · 27/05/2024 20:20

She has drawn you smiling, that is the most important thing.

SonicTheHodgeheg · 27/05/2024 20:21

Her handwriting is very good but artistic ability is hard to judge because there’s massive variation with those who do it more being much better. I can see what she drew which is a good start.

delilabell · 27/05/2024 20:21

Can't ride a bike, can't do laces or buttons. Hates any craft things (I think because of fine motor skills) is v good at reading.
I really appreciate all your answers. Such a variety!

OP posts:
BlueJamSandwich · 27/05/2024 20:23

Her writing is better than mine and I've got a PhD.

Aria999 · 27/05/2024 20:23

DS is 8 and academically strong. I'm not sure if he drew a person and didn't color it in, that it would be any better than that.

His writing is much less good (we are non uk and they don't flog it nearly as much in school at this age).

He's good at drawing animals and uses color blocking well.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 27/05/2024 20:24

Her writing looks good enough to be an adult's. The pen control is very good as well, with no smudging and just a couple of misses. The observation of blue for his eyes is very astute.

Mine were certainly worse - one refused to use anything that scratched or squeaked on paper and the other one created 99.8% rainbows. Both were uneven, messy and far, far worse than that at 8.

One had hypermobile joints and really enjoyed using larger scale paper and paints rather than being constricted to standard sizes, the other liked large scale and lots of colour/texture/collage because it felt more natural to use her arms and hands rather than just her fingers.

They were both crap at bike riding compared to the 3 years olds riding one handed and doing stunts around our block of flats, the messier one would always throw herself into things anyhow and end up in a bruised and grazed heap at some point.

Didn't stop either of them getting first in Arts degrees, one in Fine Art, one now lectures in Textiles - and they both had perfectly nice handwriting by 14 and 18.

Pen Licences were for 11 year olds when they were at Primary, though. Saved making 8 year olds feel like crap for not having built up the muscles to write legibly yet.

Do her fingers bend back at the joints as she holds a standard pen?

Nottherealslimshady · 27/05/2024 20:26

Did she try her absolute hardest to do it as best she could, becuase it looks like she was just playing/doodling. Not all kids have a desire to do everything the best they can. She obviously knows he isn't green, so I don't think she really is doing the best she can, which is completely fine, but there's no point judging it.

delilabell · 27/05/2024 20:27

@NeverDropYourMooncup his eyes are brown. 😄 these are actually a big improvement from her drawing recently.
@LadyKenya it is thank you

OP posts:
Adhdmumofadhdtwins · 27/05/2024 20:28

Similar to my 7yo who i strongly feel is ADD, dysgraphic and dyspraxic but your dd's handwriting is neater.

I think if you haven't already done so, look at ADD/ADHD - struggling retaining information is very common and can go hand in hand with dysgraphia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia.

If she is ND, as a girl she's likely to mask and fly under the radar so you'll need to advocate for her, she may need adjustments at school especially as she moves through to secondary.

Some of us ADDers make the best artists though - i think it's lovely that she has made something she's proud of and she should be encouraged to explore creativity regardless of whether it's technically good for an 8yo or not.

delilabell · 27/05/2024 20:29

@Nottherealslimshady this is the best shes done pretty much.
@NeverDropYourMooncup not that I've noticed

OP posts:
VivaciousRadish · 27/05/2024 20:29

My youngest daughter’s drawing was much like this at 8, but handwriting was far worse. Eldest daughter was far better at both

However at 25 and 22 my youngest daughter likes anything creative, eldest doesn’t, and their handwriting is very similar

Just let her enjoy it. Does she have nice pens etc? My drawings not fantastic but I have a successful Etsy shop designing and hand making original products

mathanxiety · 27/05/2024 20:30

Her writing is very neat.

The drawing is a little behind but not by much. There's detail in the hairstyle.

One of my DDs never got beyond stick figures and truly sucked at art that involved drawing or painting all through school. Her academic strengths lay elsewhere (though she never really came to terms with maths). It turned out that her artistic skills lay in the areas of clay, photography, and tech drawing.

There's more to art and life than renditions of people with eyelashes or realistic clothing...

WarriorN · 27/05/2024 20:31

Please don't base anything on drawing; some children just aren't interested.

"Fine Drawing" in the way we tend to expect it and (perhaps wrongly) positively celebrate it is a skill that develops from a mixture of other skills, but the driving force is a desire to do it.

LeilaLettuce · 27/05/2024 20:31

My drawing isn’t much better, I can tell you that.

mathanxiety · 27/05/2024 20:31

delilabell · 27/05/2024 20:21

Can't ride a bike, can't do laces or buttons. Hates any craft things (I think because of fine motor skills) is v good at reading.
I really appreciate all your answers. Such a variety!

Have a look at dyspraxia.

Gummybear23 · 27/05/2024 20:32

delilabell · 27/05/2024 19:52

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?

😂

Bumblebeeinatree · 27/05/2024 20:32

delilabell · 27/05/2024 19:52

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?

My DD was pretty terrible at that age, she was great a few years later.

coxesorangepippin · 27/05/2024 20:33

I don't think it's bad

Maybe she doesn't like art

MrsBungle · 27/05/2024 20:33

Her writing is beautiful. My kids were drawing like that at 8. They’re 14 and 12 now and probably still would! They are not artists! 😂

delilabell · 27/05/2024 20:34

I'm honestly not saying this for people to think I'm judging her.
I'm so proud of her and always cheer her on. But I am concerned about her and would like to hear off people for advice.
She has a selection of pens, paper and colouring crayons and we do sit together to draw and colour .

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 27/05/2024 20:34

If she loves what she created - and had the impulse to create it in the first place - then that's a win.

ZenNudist · 27/05/2024 20:35

I wouldn't worry. There's a lot of variation in levels of artistry. My 10yo was drawing stick men the other day but when he wants to he can draw very detailed pictures. If this is just a doodle then I really wouldn't worry.

FluffyDiplodocus · 27/05/2024 20:38

I would query with school if they feel she's where she ought to be or not - you've said you've already got concerns so it's worth raising. I have an 8yo and to be honest her drawings are much more detailed than this BUT she's always loved drawing and been quite crafty. I also have a 6yo who has issues with his fine motor skills amongst other things (he has ASD, very hypermobile though apparently not dyspraxic) and he is way behind where she was at this point comparatively in terms of drawings and writing, however his teacher says he's actually meeting the expectations for his age at the moment. So I think there's quite a broad range of what is deemed to be in line with peers!

WhyamInotvomiting · 27/05/2024 20:39

delilabell · 27/05/2024 20:21

Can't ride a bike, can't do laces or buttons. Hates any craft things (I think because of fine motor skills) is v good at reading.
I really appreciate all your answers. Such a variety!

Aw, she sounds like me at 8!

My DC is turning 6 and draws very similarly to that. But obviously her handwriting is much poorer!

Swipe left for the next trending thread