to think doodling is fairly innofensive and sometimes quite helpful?

[AtYourCervix]

DD gets told off daily for doodling. It seems to particularly irritate one teacher.

Why? Is it so bad?

I'm a doodler and find I can doodle down the margin and yet still be listening and concentrating.

Is doodling really the worst thing a 12 year old can be doing?

Doing something creative can help you process problems. Taking your mind 'off' the thing you've been nagging away at ( "what was that perons' name again?" or "How can I get DS/DD/DH to...?") and your brain sorts through and finds the answer 'by itself'.

I doodle. DH fiddles.
DS is probably doomed!!

His foundation year teacher did comment on how he often draws on his work and ought not to do that as it was messy. I just thought of it as illuminated text and a sign of creativity.

I need to doodle/fidget to concentrate too. Drives DH mad (though he's a leg jiggler, so he can't talk)

My school books were works of art, wish I'd kept more of them.

When teaching adults in the workplace, I used to provide as many 'hands-on' props for people as possible, including coloured pens and plasticine, artist's jointed wooden dolls, and so on.

It was amazing how much this informal atmosphere improved the experience for the learners. It made everyone feel relaxed, and the 'creations' normally related to the lesson in some way, could be admired and discussed, which served to reinforce the points to be absorbed.

Tangler arrived today - ds loves it!