toddlers and drawing, what is normal?!!!

[flossismum]

My 2 1/2 year old has been scribbling for as long as she could hold a pencil! She has drawn faces, with eyes (including the iris), nose, mouth since before she was 2, and now adds teeth, hair, ears, arms with hands, legs and feet! Tonight she even made the legs extra thick and said they were trousers! She also likes to draw spiders, with hundreds of little legs and cartoon like faces!

We don't know any other children the same age, and have no idea if this is normal or not! We were the first of our friends to have a baby, so all the kids we know are younger.

If anyone knows anything about art and wether this is something we should be encouraging, I'd love to hear from you! Thanks!!!

Your dd does sound like her drawings are very good for her age.

I wonder if you can help me with my question about drawing?

Wallace, left you a wee post. Not sure it's of any use though!

Bluebear, I find your views balanced - I try not to get excited about early signs of talent in pre-school children, because development plays such a big role in how soon a child starts to blossom in a particular area. But as for circumstance playing a part in your dd's drawing, I think apart from natural talent, interest also plays a part in it, which is another function of talent. Even if my dd were at home (which happens alot these cold days), I could not get her to pick up a pen if she did not want to.

Interest is an important motivation IMO which will allow 1 child to distinguish herself against another with equal talent in later life. That is innate but can also be nurtured to an extent.

Anyway, just want to say to you and Flossimum that your dds sound exceptional in their drawing abilities!