3-year-old drawing - what's normal?

[UnbridledPositivity]

My DD really loves drawing and crafty stuff. However, every time she does some drawing, it's just mad scribbles and nothing else, no discernible shapes of any kind, no purposeful directing of the crayon iyswim. I noticed today that younger children at nursery already draw those stick people with their arms and legs coming out of their heads. Is there something wrong because DD doesn't draw anything like that yet?

How can I encourage her to develop her drawing? I usually just let her get in with it and talk to her about what she thinks she's drawing, the colours etc. Lots of interest and generally positive comments as I want her to feel free and confident - I don't want to tell her how to draw. But how do I encourage her to move on? When I put a picture in front of her, she still just 'copies' it by making scribbles.

You sound like DH - he says the same. I encourage him to draw for DS and DS sees us both having a go, so will attempt it himself. Any one can draw a stick man, so go for it!

DH has quite a negative attitude about trying things he can't do so I don't want DS to be the same as it can hold you back a bit.

Your DD is drawing properly!

She is experimenting with materials, mark-making and filling the page.

As an art teacher, I would carry on doing exactly what you're doing... Nothing. No asking her 'what is it?' or showing her 'how' to draw things, no more copying pictures, just keep discussing her drawing by asking her to tell you about it. You could give her some objects to draw if she's interested, but don't push her if not. Try and remember it's about the process and not the result, and the main thing is that she wants to draw.

Keep up the good work

3 of my 4 didn't draw anything at all at that age. Usually not until well past 4th birthday. So I would say OP's was normal-advanced. DC have all come good in long run (average or better at art).

Very useful to have an art teacher's perspective! It's much nicer to think of DD's experimentation in this way.

It's encouraging to hear that things can suddenly change quite quickly. I bet it's lovely when your DC draws their first family picture.

She sounds very normal- mark making- that's what they call it. Actually all those scribbles are very good practice for the drawing/writing that comes next so encourage WHATEVER marks she makes .

DD just 4 can draw a face with eyes and mouth etc but that's about it. As far as I remember DS was similar, just before 4 though he got really into it and started drawing loads. He was and is fantastic at drawing, I almost feel a bit sad he doesn't draw so much now he can write (just 6 now).

I used to draw a lot more with DS, somehow had more time and I think he demanded more attention than DD does- my drawing is probably less good than his now- I think they really don't care/don't know how bad Mum or Dad is, just to have you drawing with them is fab . I used to copy things or try to like his teddy etc

DD1 didn't draw a thing until I think about 3.5. She hated it and would tantrum. Now at 5.1, her drawing is far and away the best in her class (as evidenced by classroom displays). They get it when they get it!

DS turned 3 in September. He can't colour inside the lines and can't draw anything meaningful either.

Sorry to hijack - Trazzle I have been lurking on your thread and think about minitrazzle lots.

Thanks manchester

No asking her 'what is it?' or showing her 'how' to draw things, no more copying pictures

To be honest, you may be right, but my mum showed me a lot of things- how to draw a profile, shading tricks, how to make eyes look realistic and showed me how to change expressions with the shape of the eyes.......I'd come to her, ask her to draw something, and I'd try to copy it. I draw all the time now, I don't seem to be embarrassing myself, and I still remember what she used to tell me to do and use it as a base. Definitely didn't stifle my creativity or anything like that. She was always hugely encouraging when it came to art- good quality materials whenever I wanted them. What kid doesn't need a bit of help, maybe so they don't waste materials, doesn't stop them having fun.

At 2/3 from pictures apparently I was obsessed with pregnant women so we have lots of identical pictures of a stick lady with enormous balloon of a tummy, and another littler stick person inside (and sometimes a little person inside that person, bloody Russian dolls!). Otherwise my mum would wet down a poster size bit of paper and give me watercolours, and I'd dab bruise colours everywhere.