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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

HELP! Very clever 4 year old drawing on everything!

16 replies

hails35 · 13/11/2011 15:16

I really don't know what to do - some help would be very much appreciated. My DS is very clever but has taken to drawing on stuff (cushions, settee, walls, computer) even though he knows this is wrong. He is punished with timeout when he has done it but nothing is working. He doesnot respond to reward charts - have tried that too!! Any help / advice much appreciated.

OP posts:

Notinmykitchen · 13/11/2011 15:18

Confiscate his drawing things until he learns his lesson?

whoopeecushion · 13/11/2011 15:20

Confiscate his fav toys.

If you draw on something that you are not supposed to draw on, then I will take away your dinosaur/train/whatever he loves.

jamaisjedors · 13/11/2011 15:21

Move pens etc. out of reach.

BTW what difference does it make that he's clever?

catsareevil · 13/11/2011 15:24

You need to hide the pens if he cant/wont follow your instructions.

tethersend · 13/11/2011 15:26

He wants to draw outside the confines of a small piece of paper- let him, but provide appropriate places for him to do so.

Get some blackboard paint and paint a section of his bedroom/kitchen wall

Cut up old scraps of fabric and give them to him to draw on.

Give him old objects/boxes to paint and draw on

Buy a cheap roll of paper and hang it in large sections on the wall, let him draw on it.

Buy him some different drawing materials.

If he continues to draw on furniture, then punish- but I would give him an appropriate outlet first.

SoupDragon · 13/11/2011 15:27

"very clever" [arf] Not so clever he can't work out not to draw on stuff that isn't paper.

Take away his drawing stuff unless he is supervised.

tethersend · 13/11/2011 15:28

Drawing on stuff that isn't paper is allowed though- it's fun!

Just give him stuff it's ok to draw on.

TeamDamon · 13/11/2011 15:29

Yes - why do we need to know he's clever?

But in answer to your problem, I would take away his drawing things for a set period of time each time he draws on something he shouldn't. At least this is what I would do with my DS, who is very clever

TeamDamon · 13/11/2011 15:30

Oh - get him some playground chalks and put him on the patio.

Original poster

hails35 · 13/11/2011 15:36

Thanks! The only point of me saying very clever was because he knows it is wrong! Sorry if that comment caused offence to anyone - it wasn't intended to!
He is completely surrounded with paper etc - has a blackboard in his room, with a roll of paper on the other side. This is part the reason I am at the end of my tether is because I just don't understand why he does it! I would take his drawing stuff away, but that just isn't practical (I have another 2 boys and I am studying), so he has access even if I take his stuff away! I have banned his favourite thing as a result of the latest episode, but I just can't see it really working??!!

OP posts:

Original poster

hails35 · 13/11/2011 15:41

Thanks Tethersend, some great ideas! I will try them!

OP posts:

MoreBeta · 13/11/2011 15:44

Definitley chalk and patio combined with withdrawal of drawing implements inside the house.

Worked for us.

SoupDragon · 13/11/2011 16:14

wrt not drawing on stuff that isn't paper, if the child has form for drawing where it isn't wanted it is far easier to ban drawing on anything that isn't paper so that it sinks in.

Take chalking on the patio for example, all fine and something all of mine have enjoyed (and still do, aged 12!). If it is OK to draw on that floor, why not on this floor? It depends how your child's mind works.

I would still advocate withdrawal of all art materials unless supervised. If this impacts on the others then so be it. If they want drawing stuff, they have to ask and it has to be put away by you when they are done. DD went through this aged 3 or so. She got over it. Mostly - she recently wrote me an "I'm leaving" note in biro on her bedroom door, aged 5

As to why he does it - because he wants to see what its like :) Sometimes I find myself idly sketching stuff on the table with the pen hovering millimetres above the surface.

HoneyPablo · 13/11/2011 16:54

Sounds like the drawing isn't the real issue if he knows it is wrong and he has other things to draw on. Could he be possibly be attention-seeking? You say that you are studying, maybe he is feeling neglected? I'm not suggesting that you are neglecting him, but he may be feeling that way. He is only 4, so he doesn't understnd that he can't have your undivided attention, which is what he is craving.

Original poster

hails35 · 13/11/2011 17:55

HoneyPablo, I fear you may be right! :~( His behaviour has been pretty poor today (which apart from the drawing thing is very unusual). I need to look at managing my time better I think - just difficult with a full time job, training, studying and 3 boys!

OP posts:

HoneyPablo · 13/11/2011 18:03

I know exactly how you feel. I am doing a degree 1 day a week, and working 4 days a week too. Although my DD is older, she's 15, she has just asked me when my course is finished. When I told her May next year, she cheered and said "Yay, i get my Mum back" I've been doing it for the last 3 years.
I have tried to do a plan, so that nobody feels neglected, but it is so hard fitting it all in.

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