My 4yr old can't draw- does he need an OT?

[MooMe]

Hi all
DS is 4.4yrs old, and due to start school (reception) this coming September (eek!!).
He currently attends a private nursery (they call it preschool).

All of the kids in his preschool can draw simple shapes (square, triangle, circle, a stick man etc). some of them are true prodigies- can write things (other than their names!) and do simple maths.

DS only doodles and scribbles (you can't make out anything), can't draw simple shapes (straight line, circle, anything), and I don't think he fully understands the concept of numbers and letters. Other than that- he's very verbal, very good at at his motor skills (fine and gross), and is generally a highly sociable funny little man.

I wasn't not really worried about it, but after having several discussions with some of the mums there (as well as my mum) I got a bit worried - do I need to go and see an Occupational Therapist? Will it be difficult for him in Reception if he can't write his name or draw when he enters reception?

Thanks Everyone

Neither of my DSs could draw or write much before YR. If he has no fine or gross motor skills then I would give him a bit more time (DS1 did have motor skills problems and an OT helped but DS2 had none).

I would get is eyes checked if you haven't already as we were quite surprised to find out DS2 was long sighted.

Both of mine liked having a big space to draw, the ideal would be a whiteboard or chalkboard I suppose but we had neither. I got some dry wipe markers and let them draw on the fridge instead (which is white) they still do it now aged 5 & 9. Drawing / mark making against an upright surface can be good for muscle development.

There are lots of informal ways to help with understanding the concept of letters and numbers as well e.g. bus numbers, house numbers, road signs etc which help them understand that these funny shapes convey information. Find something your DS is interested in and he will probably drive you mad pointing out numbers and letters.

DD1 and dd2 were writing long before they went to school.

I think ds drew his first recognisable picture half way through year R.

It won't be a problem if he can't write his name or draw in Reception.

DS1 couldn't draw until he was 4/4.2. Now he is 4.7 and in Reception and has really got the hang of it since Christmas.

He could write his name with help, and was very good with his numbers, but could only read 'Mum, 'Dad' etc.

Don't worry - preschool did a lot of work with their rising fives in the late spring and summer to get them ready for school. Most of what school are concerned about is things like dressing themselves, putting hat and shoes on etc.
I was really bothered this time last year that DS1 wouldn't be ready for school - but he really was and he is loving it.

ds2 is in reception and almost 5 - he still struggles to write and draw, to the point that he has extra help with it - there is a little group of them that have a little session first thing in the morning when the others are doing the register etc.

His problem is that he doesn't have enough strength in his hands - which is true - if I give him say a penguin biscuit he can't rip it open as his brother could at that age.

So I've been told rather than work on writing/drawing per se, concentrate on building up strength in his hands, using playdough, lego, rolling and throwing balls, squeezing things, gripping things, anything you can think of.

And for drawing - get a really thick thick felt tip and then draw on old newspapers (protecting surfaces underneath from the felt tip - make sure it's not permanent!) - hopefully there are enough pages that can be used to draw lots of things and the thick pen means it can be seen on the paper despite the newsprint.

Also build up general arm strength - we were told even things like getting a reasonable size paint brush (an adult size one a couple of inches across for example) and a bucket of water and allowing them to 'paint' the fence or a wall etc with the water (assuming it wont damage anything!) using all different sorts of strokes such as up, down, zigsags, circles, wavy lines etc.

We were also given a 'magic wand' - aka a stick with a bit of ribbon a couple of metres long tied to the end - to get to twirl around lots in the air (again, best to do outdoors unless you have lots of space!) - get them to 'write' letters with big movements so the ribbons twirl around like they do in gymnastics or just to have fun twirling and whirling it around. Strengthening their gross motor skills will help them to control their fine motor skills too.

if you have some sort of introduction or induction to the school before it starts, it might be worth mentioning it to the teacher then, who will be really used to it with kids and can then provide some help and ideas for things to do in the summer to help towards it for the start of school.

Oh and I meant to say - ds2 is also pretty verbal (good vocab and thoughts, although sometimes we struggle to distinguish what he is actually trying to say), has excellent mental maths skills (but can't really write any sums down) and is doing really well at his phonics.

The teachers have said that he won't be held back from moving forwards with his phonics and word building by his writing, as he will be given a tablet computer to do stuff on (which he will adore as he is a whizz on the ipad and computer at home) so if they are asked to write cat for example, the others will write c a t on their white boards, he will type it out on the tablet rather than never progress properly because his writing (or lack thereof!) holds him back.

zipzap those are great ideas about working on gross motor skills. DS1 is pretty dextrous with things like Lego (not that it has had an impact on his writing yet!) but lacks strength. He would love to 'paint' the fences

Can he hold the pencil correctly? Does he put enough pressure on the page? Does he consistently use one hand (right or left?) Can he copy very simple shapes? Can he use scissors?

My ds is 4.5 and the answer is no to all of those questions, which is why he has been referred to a clinic for assessment.

Thanks all for helpful tips and pointers.
Have spoken to his preschool teacher and the manager again, and we're going to put an emphasis on holding pencil/scissors and copying shapes etc.

If things do not improve in a couple of months, I'll go and get him assessed.

Thanks!

Ds2 still scribbled before he started school - he's reception now, but July birthday so still 4. They'd asked us if we could teach him to write his name before starting school, but it was a complete non-starter.

I have a beautiful Mother's Day card waiting for me tomorrow, which a decent drawing of all the family, our house and the hamster and he has written inside to mummy, I love you the best, love xxxx.

I wouldn't worry at all xx

Blimey kelda my ds couldn't do any of those things at 4.5 either! No one ever referred us anywhere though. He is 6 now and in Y2 and he is still unbelievably crap at drawing, but he can write fine if not overly neatly.

I'm an OT Sounds fine to me at his age. I wouldn't even worry too much about his pen grip until he starts to learn writing properly - as long as he's got the beginnings of a tripod grasp, it really doesn't matter how 'pretty' it is. Here is quite a good blog that shows where he should be at pen-grip-wise, but it is something that people get far too het-up about. My pen grip is hideous, but I still managed to get a university qualification If he's not at a quadrupod grasp yet, try and find markers or crayons with this sort of grip. He'll have to use his thumb, index and middle finger to hold them, thus telling those digits that they're the main players in drawing and eventually writing.

Zipzap's suggestions are fantastic, but if, as you say, he's on track with his fine and gross motor skills, it could just simply mean he's not going to be taking the art world by storm any time soon.

Reception teachers are very good at improving fine motor control. I would not worry until he has completed reception about his fine motor skills.

I found that letting dd lose on a tablet (google nextus) has done wonders for her hand eye coordination.

Thanks again everyone
@ElphabaTheGreen-That's extremly helpful!!! I'm so much more relaxed now . He does hold his pens/crayons in a tripod grasp.
Oh well, guess I'll have to ditch my dreams of being the next Picasso's mum

Once again- huge thanks to everyone for sharing their thoughts and personal experience x

LiegeAndLief to be honest, we didn't pick up on any of those things either (despite doing lots of crafts at home), it's his school that have referred him. They seem to think he is significantly behind for his age, for other things as well.

This is such a helpful discussion thanks everyone

Ds1 couldn't draw before starting school.

He does have hypermobile hands though and OT (who he was referred to for something else) pointed out it was hurting him to hold a pencil and the force he had to use to hold it made fine movements impossible.

He's 6 now and does draw a bit, very simplistic stuff though. His writing isn't great and he's very slow. It hasn't affected his reading at all though, he has a reading age 2 years above his actual age.

I'd wait and see how he goes in school, some kids just don't like drawing and won't do it unless they're made to in school.

SummerRainIsADistantMemory - the physio who assessed DS said that trying to draw was extremely tiring for him, (as well as other activities). Although he does seem to enjoy crafts.

Fortunately in my country they don't learn to read and write until the age of six, so we have loads of time to try and help him.

I wouldn't worry too much then, lots of time to get him used to the idea. Ds1 started drawing once he was in school.