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?

I’d say it is similar to what my ds would have produced at 8. He doesn’t have any special needs, he is just “rubbish at art”. He is very strong academically other than that. (I have a Cambridge maths degree and can barely manage a stick man so at least we know he is mine. 😂)

The drawing is detailed with features in all the correct places. Eyes on the face, a smile to express emotion, etc.

All very good signs IMO. 👌

Please don't worry. That handwriting is the business! Can your DD please teach my 17yo to write as well as that?!🤣

I think it is a lovely charming picture.

Looks fine to me. My son still can't draw at eleven and he is a clever boy.

Similar to PP’s I have a DS(11) who is extremely clever but isnt a great artist at all unless it is guided by an online drawing tutorial. Your DD’s drawing is probably better than most drawing he attempts

I think it's a lovely picture! My eldest is 11 and has dyspraxia and dysgraphia and can't draw anywhere near as well as that, also her handwriting is way better than his!
The picture is better than my 5 year old can do (who, as far as we are aware has no fine motor skill delays).

To be fair I think the picture is better than I could do 🙈.

However if as you say you are concerned about fine motor skills then have you spoken to the school about it? Perhaps look into getting an OT assessment?

My son and I are iffy at motor skills too and recently got assessed for dyspraxia. It cost a lot but was very informative. We're not diagnosable, but the assessor said we're always going to struggle a bit with motor skills and just need to practise stuff more than other people.

It is worth doing the assessment because if you have it done then when she gets to GCSEs they'll let her use a keyboad in exams.

If you want the contact details of an assessor I can pass them on. Please do PM me.

I couldn’t draw better than that and I have an Oxford degree. Maybe art isn’t her “thing”? (It certainly wasn’t mine!).

Both drawing and handwriting are better than mine.

Some people just can't draw. I can't.

@takemeawayagain @SemperIdem yes - my 8 yo with dyspraxia has trouble with all of these. Have tried to teach him how to swing many times but his balance seems to be off.

Why don't you ask her teacher and/or SENCO about an assessment for dyspraxia?

If you can afford it, a private OT assessment might prove very helpful.

Exactly this. I can't draw any better than your DD and I also have zero interest in learning how to draw. I just don't care about it. There's a lot I can do though, but drawing isn't one of them.

I wouldn't bat an eyelid if my 10 year old brought that home. He's on the waiting list for an ADHD assessment but I still wouldn't see the art as indicative of anything sinister. I'm not remotely arty and assume he's the same. But if you're concerned that's different. Why does the drawing concern you?

Oh my goodness, my drawing is worse.
I wouldn’t worry at all

It's cute! I like it!
2 of my dc are dyspraxic and so am I and if you're concerned about your dd having it I suggest this, get a tray and some plastic or paper cups on it and get her to practise carrying them, filled with water in the garden ideally so they water doesn't spill, it sounds silly but it really helped us. And if she struggles with scissors get her to cut playdoh with kids scissors so she gets the hang of holding them correctly.
Her writing is beautiful.

I can't drive/cycle/walk in a straight line but besides that dyspraxia as an adult really hasn't affected me to badly besides the weekend I worked as a waitress. But I'm sure had I been given support early on instead of called horrible names (ah, 90s parenting!) by my parents I'd have done much better.

Her writing is lovely. I hope she isn't dyspraxic but if she is then just loads of praise and boost her confidence in other ways I found worked for my lads!

I'm baffled by the idea that drawings indicate anything. I used to teach drawing to children and something of that standard could appear at any age, 6 or 6. It doesn't indicate anything

My 8 year old’s drawing is exceptional but her reading and writing are very poor - horses for courses.

My sister is a secondary school art teacher. She showed us still life pics done by yr 7 students which varied from beautiful shaded drawings to a basic outline. I don't think you should look at artistic capability/interest to gauge SEN.

My DD has dyslexia. Her drawings would be significantly better than this at this age but her handwriting awful. Only in secondary school has it improved.
Have a look at Hit the Button app on a tablet to practice times tables. It was really helpful for us. Learning by rote/short term/working memory is often an issue for dyslexics.

I wouldn't worry about drawing, I am utterly hopeless, I think stick men is still my level. My daughter is pretty super at drawing but I think she gets that from her dad as he is really talented too. I think it's one of those things you can either do or not.

Hi @delilabell 👋
Ex Reception/Year 1 teacher here. I would agree that your daughter's drawing isn't that of an "average" 8 year old, but not because of her pencil control/fine motor skills. The lack of detail is why I say that. For example, each hand only has 3 fingers, and she hasn't drawn ears or pupils. By 8 a majority of children would include more accurate details than that (e.g. drawing the correct number of digits, or adding eyelashes). It does NOT mean that your child has any developmental issues, but could play a factor as part of a wider picture. May I ask - what other developmental skills are you concerned about?

Edit to say: I can see some saying that they're "rubbish" at drawing. It's not about the ability to accurately draw something, it's just about the detail that is or isn't included.

Her writing is neat. She might just not be artistic 🤷‍♀️

my 4 year old does much more detailed drawing than this, but wouldn’t quite be able to write that neat. They all have her strengths and weaknesses!

Well i think she done really well shes 8 let her be a kid.
I can only draw stick men.

Not unlike my 11 yr old tbh. Mainstream school with adhd and dyslexia. Some people are just rubbish at drawing. Iv seen most of drawing of his class and they range from super basic to works of art