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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

DS not very interested in painting/drawing

27 replies

chelseamorning · 01/09/2010 11:06

My 3yr old DS is a bright boy, particularly with speech and language. However he shows very little interest in painting, drawing, colouring in etc, either at home or at pre-school. Is this pretty normal for a boy?!

I get out paints etc a few times a week, with no pressure, to encourage him but he gives up after a couple of minutes. He wants me to do it for him ('Mummy, can you draw me a *?' etc) and has on occasion said that he's rubbish at drawing, something we've never said to him! (I'm a bit concerned about this as he's not comfortable in holding a pen/pencil and whether this will disadvantage him later when he goes to school.)

However, he seems more comfortable in building with lego, the ELC 'build it' kits, in fact anything really using 3D objects.

So he seems to be able to imagine and build in 3D but not create in 2D.

Anyone shed any light on this or give me tips on how to encourage him to draw etc?

OP posts:

Hullygully · 01/09/2010 11:08

He doesn't WANT to draw. He wants to make stuff. It's cool.

mmmmmmmmmmmm · 01/09/2010 11:09

Why would you want to?? my DS1 is 14, he has always hated drawing and art in general (in fact he came to an agreement with his art teacher he wouldnt have to do the work but he would be her assistant, cleaning up and the like).

He is an A grade student, in the top stream at school and it hasnt hurt him in anyway, some kids just dont like arts and crafts.

Strangely my DS1 also loved lego and the like.

Its just not all kids are the same.

Adair · 01/09/2010 11:13

you could try letting him draw on a big piece of paper on the wall, or a cardboard box, or cardboard tubes...

Or just let him enjoy what he enjoys!

Ineedsomesleep · 01/09/2010 11:15

He sounds exactly like my DS and quite frankly I wouldn't bother if he's not interested. The time before they go to school passes so quickly, its too short to worry about something so minor. If you have time to play do what he wants to do, not what you feel he ought to do.

My DS had hardly ever picked up a pencil before going to school. He was writing sentences within weeks.

He'll be fine.

Original poster

chelseamorning · 01/09/2010 11:18

Yes, I know Hullgully. It's just that I get comments from pre-school and friends. I never get to put artwork up on the fridge - just get to dust and hoover around his lego creations!!!!

I guess I assumed that being creative in one dimension would allow you to be creative in another. Daft, I know!

Thanks for sharing, Hullgully.

OP posts:

mmmmmmmmmmmm · 01/09/2010 11:21

take photos of the lego creations!! truprint do collage prints for 99p

TheUnmentioned · 01/09/2010 11:31

Ds actively hates painting. He very occasionally draws with crayons. That's it. He never does anything like that at nursery. He does quite like playdough.

It's just the way they are. Ds much,much, prefers to play with little action figures and make up wee stories for them etc.

Oh, ds is 3y8m.

GooseyLoosey · 01/09/2010 11:34

ds (now 7) has always hated to draw and colour - however he did make an electro-magnetic bug yesterday out of batteries and stuff in the kitchen. Some children don't like drawing and I don't think you can make them do it. (I actually "help" d with homework that requires colouring in).

MinnieMummy · 01/09/2010 11:38

My DS is 3.9 and only takes a passing interest in drawing or painting - if you want to encourage that side more you could try making pictures with foam stickers and googly eyes, and splat painting, both of which DS prefers to straightforward drawing. But like Mmmmmmm said, they're all different...

witlesssarah · 01/09/2010 11:57

Here's another with a DS about to start school and no interest in painting or drawing. I have worried about it, and I worry about his sense that he is rubbish because I worry it will delay writing. So I'm really relieved to read Ineedsomesleep say it wasn't a problem.

specialmagiclady · 01/09/2010 12:02

My DS was like this at preschool. He was basically frustrated by his own lack of ability. Now that he's 5 and his motor skills are better he LOVES drawing and writing and it's a great joy - his pictures are really expressive if not "the best" in terms of accuracy.

One of the things that turned him on to drawing was that we made a book together. He told me the story, I wrote it down, he did pictures. When he does show me a picture I never say "what is it?" because it doesn't have to be of anything in particular. I say "talk me through this picture" and he'll say "that's a big pile of crossness" or whatever.

Original poster

chelseamorning · 01/09/2010 12:13

Oh, thanks, ladies. Made me feel a lot better.

I've never pushed him to draw, just leave some crayons etc and paper on the kitchen table while I'm cooking. If he doodles as he passes by then great. If not, I don't comment.

It's just that the people at pre-school make a big joke about me not having anything to collect from DS's tray to take home each session. It made me think there might be a problem.

OP posts:

Meow75 · 01/09/2010 12:14

I have always disliked drawing too. I am, however, a pretty good wordsmith. I don't write for pleasure, but when I have to write reports (I'm a secondary science teacher) for students, I am very good.

The head of art at my school told me a few years ago that I was unusual because I don't doodle - ever!! It's never ever done me any harm except in art class, which I loathed and would SERIOUSLY preferred extra Maths or French classes.

FWIW my parents didn't rate art as a useful subject, and I think my dad would have found it hard to hide his disappointment if I had wanted some sort of artist's career. He was disappointed enough that I chose teaching as a career rather than making pots of money.

AlCrowley · 01/09/2010 12:16

My DS is 3.5 and isn't interested in drawing. Like the others, he loves LEGO and playdough etc.

It's frustrating cause I'd love us to paint and stick together as I love that kind of stuff but he's just not interested.

So I encourage the stuff he does like and cross fingers that DD likes painting :)

ZZZenAgain · 01/09/2010 12:21

have never seen the attraction in colouring in tbh

How are you animating him to draw/paint - paint a picture of something? Maybe he is stumped and doesn't know how to simplify it into something he could reproduce but would happily decorate a cardboard mask if you cut a basic shape and cut out holes for eyes and mouth. It doesn't have to look like a person/lion etc, can just be wildly colourful.

Maybe he would like to do swirls in different colours (kind of Van Godh, isn't it?) or dunking bits of potato into paint and pressing it on paper. Maybe he'd like painting your hand and pressing it down on paper, then you do his. Doesn't have to resemble a house, dog etc IYSWIM

you can also get a long strip of packing paper and lay it on the floor, have him lie down on top and draw his outline. Go over it with a black marker and let him draw himself - eyes, nose, mouth, t-shirt etc. He might like doing that. He can use chalk, thick crayons or paint.

roseability · 01/09/2010 13:28

Hi there

My ds is 4 and does not really like arts and crafts. Because he was my first, I got all het up that he should be doing it. Now I have dd 14 months and I have relaxed a bit. Why should he like it? He loves lego and working out how things work and whilst I don't agree with labelling children I suspect his brain works in that way and he may never be a drawer or painter.

I do occasionally get some pens out and he will draw for 10 mins or so but it is more so that he gets used to holding a pen (but even that will come when he has to write every day at school). I never force him but I find if it is daddy's birthday for example he does enjoy drawing a birthday card for him.

Before I had kids I pictured afternoons glueing, sticking and getting messy but that was my visions of motherhood, he is his own person.

Creativity takes many forms and I believe everyone is creative in their own way. My ds loves music for example.

As for the mum who said it was commented on that her ds never had anything in his tray, well my ds never had a painting to collect at playgroup but you know what I admired the fact that he was individual enough to not do something he really wasn't interested in!

I do have to smile at mums (me included) worrying about our kids drawing or not when there are kids who have never seen a book before starting school!

Adair · 01/09/2010 16:18

Ahhhh - so it's pre-school's paranoia! nah, it's that THEY feel bad that they are somehow not doing their job.. i'd count your blessings that you don't get handed countless paper with splodgeson-- artwork that you have to smuggle into the recycling bin tbh.

Shannaratiger · 01/09/2010 17:57

My ds is nearly 4 and has only just started drawing and occasionly painting.
Boys shoulders and arm muscles and therefore fine motor control in their hands and wrists develops later than in girls so they would rather be running around under 5 than sitting down drawing, so it's biology!

resistanceisfutile · 01/09/2010 20:19

I have a 3 yo DD like this.

If you give her a sheet of paper she colours the whole thing red (always red) as quick as she can and then says finished and gets down.

She asks me to draw things for her but rarely draws anything herself. She can do a simple face if pushed.

QuickLookBusy · 01/09/2010 20:22

I agree with what everyone else has said, but my main worry would be him saying "Im not good at drawing".

If he doesnt develop some confidence it might affect his willingness to paint/draw/write, which when he gets to school he will be asked to do.

I dont think there is anything wrong with letting him copy you. i.e. draw his face (or something he is really intersted in) do a very simple picture and get him to copy you step by step. When he sees his picture is a bit like yours, it should really boost his confidence.

Put both pictures on the fridge!!

LittleCheesyPineappleOne · 01/09/2010 20:28

DS1 (going into Yr1) is like this. He really can't be bothered with it. He's more of an academic sort, a good reader, etc, but he's not blessed in the visual arts department. A shame, but it doesn't bother me too much. He does say "I'm not good at drawing" but it doesn't upset him at all, it is the truth after all. I don't agree with him, but tend to focus on the things he enjoys and can do, rather than on the things he doesn't enjoy. It's not vital after all.

dribbleface · 01/09/2010 20:33

would he chalk/paint with water outside, many boys i have worked with have prefered this. You can then progress to large paper on the wall/fence outside to smaller paper etc.

To be honest i wouldn't worry all that building he does will have developed great fine motor skills.

QuickLookBusy · 01/09/2010 22:27

Sorry CHELSEA I didnt read your post properly and thought your son was 4, [slapped wrist]

At 3 you really shouldnt worry at all. Just let him do what he enjoys, but carry on leaving drawing things around, just in case!

Just before he goes to school I would try to "teach" him how to draw pictures of himself/family etc. I only say that because in year R he will be asked to draw these pictures for news/diary.

vegasmum · 01/09/2010 22:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Ineedsomesleep · 02/09/2010 17:10

at Vegasmum's Mum or should that be Vegasnan?

Forgot that when DS started school the teacher asked if we could take him for an eyesight test. We asked why and she said that when he has to colour something in he just scribbled a little bit in the middle and handed it in so she thought he couldn't see the lines. We had him tested and he has 20/20 vision and as the Optician pointed out, if he couldn't see the lines, how come the colouring is all in the middle?

He just doesn't like drawing but he is very good in other areas.

Ignore the others at Pre-school, all children are different.

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