My 4 year old boy is not interested in colouring. Should I be worried? (seriously)

[gaelicsheep]

He also very rarely does representational drawing or painting. Just scribbles and makes a mess really, although he has great fun doing it. He's 4.3 .

He is doing so well in other areas that I'm quite surprised and I'm wondering why this might be. His language skills are excellent, he can remember all the characters and storylines of all his books, recite long sections of poems, remember loads of songs, etc. etc. He also has a terrific imagination and will role play with himself, or friends, for ages.

He also isn't showing any interest in copying or tracing letters and numbers. They are doing nothing of this in his so-called pre-school so it's just me trying to have a go with him at home. Again his fine motor skills are excellent in other areas, so I'm puzzled.

Thoughts anyone? Is this a key indicator for development or not?

(This may be the first of several posts in this topic)

I should say that my ds2 is 4 (He'll be 5 in April). Also let her just enjoy being a child there will be plenty of time to draw or not to draw (I hope I don't sound too patronising.

This was my ds1 to a tee. He is more into physical things and loves making models, playing with Lego etc.

He has just started reception (he'll be 5 next week so is an older child in his school year) and things has changed beyond belief in the last 6 weeks.

He's asking to do colouring, colouring in the lines and they're doing a letter a week at school (cursive writing so a bit complicated imo) which he's really having a go at. They do writing in allsorts of different ways - in the sand, in shaving foam on a mirror, tracing their fingers on their friends backs aswell as with a pencil on paper.

I asked his teacher about this at parents evening, and she said it's more common in boys but he is at an appropriate level for his age.

I was a bit woried about it when he started at the beginning of this term but things can change really quickly.

So if we still lived in England would DS be in reception (he was 4 last July)? It seems so different up here. They don't even seem to expect them to count or know their colours, let alone learn any early writing or reading skills. It drives me crazy. I think I need to speak with the teacher to understand better exactly what DS is doing every morning.

LOL headinhands. I did explain to DS the other day that ladies also make these things. Then I got, Mummmy how do ladies make xxxx - all day!

DS2 is 4.3 no idea if he will be left or right handed, can't write his name and scribbles with both hands! However, he is a fab reader and very mathematically minded....every child is different, embrace what they love, they will all read/write one day!

Don't worry. The German DC don't start school until 6yo and they all manage to learn to write fine.

Best advice is to do other stuff with him. Finger paints are fab, modelling clay, drawing in sand/dirt - anything that is creative basically.

Some DC are just not interested in colouring in.

my dd was never interested in colouring in, just scribble roughtly over the picture twice in one crayon, finished.

tbh with you, her handwriting is not that great even today (age 10)

hopefully there isn't a connection to colouring in! Doubt it, she always scribbled and painted. He'll be fine, don't worry about it.

Yes ZZZ that's DS alright. I actually bought him one of those magic pads with a water pen where you uncover a colour picture, in the hope of getting him to stick at something like that. He really likes it and sits "colouring" until he's got the whole picture. I don't know what the logic is, but I think that would appeal more to me as well.

I know I shouldn't worry or even be that bothered. The last thing I want is to be a neurotic parent that turns her DC off learning. But I just can't help feeling my own parents are comparing poor DS to me all the time.

Oh, he might like stuff like bark rubbing, (is that the right name) where you put paper over the tree trunk and rub a crayon over it.

Or the same with leaves.

Good idea!

My child is was just the same and had no interest at all in painting/drawing/cutting out etc - however she has always been in love with words and a complete book worm. She is now 7 and still has little interest in drawing but this also follows onto having little interest in writing sadly. However she does have a reading age 4 years older then her real age and I'm told she is very bright but just slow at putting things down on paper. Teachers say she will get faster.

Is pointless for them to compare your particular developmental journey with your ds, or any child, she may as well compare him to some kid in Timbukto. But make comparisons they will, aye, is human nature. DS is developing in the right way and at the right time for him from your account and given your clear interest and willingness to support him, which is the biggest indicator of a child's success at something, I really see no reason for you to worry :)