WJEC GCSE Home Eco - Child Development

Key Terms Palmar grasp – uses the whole hand to hold an object Tripod grasp – uses the thumb and first two fingers. (See section on physical development.) W h a t w i l l I l e a r n ? • How children develop drawing and writing skills • The role of parents and carers in encouraging children to draw and write • Children’s drawings will vary with their mood. Sometimes a child who can draw and colour quite well may not do so, perhaps because they are rushing, tired or bored. • Always try to be positive about a child’s art work. It is better to praise what you can see, for example their choice of colours than to ask what it is. Key Facts 12–15 months The child uses a palmar grasp and scribbles by moving the hand backwards and forwards. 18 months The pencil is lifted from the paper to make separate lines in different directions. 18 months to 2 years The child scribbles in circles. 2–2½ years The child draws separate circles using a primitive tripod grasp . Can copy letters T and V. 2½–3 years The circle begins to represent a face, with eyes, mouth and nose added. The tripod grasp is improving. There are several stages to learning to draw and write. These overlap so children may show more than one stage in the same drawing. As they develop control, they will begin to form letters shapes as well as pictures. The ages given are an approximate guide. Learning to write The skills of pencil control and hand–eye co-ordination to form the letter shapes, writing in a straight line with letters and words spaced neatly as well as spelling and using grammar and punctuation correctly need a lot of practice and will develop gradually. Looking at books and reading will help children to develop an understanding of spelling, punctuation and grammar. Children love to draw and paint from a young age, making on paper marks that have meaning to them even if they are not clear to others. In order to learn to write, children not only need pencil control and hand–eye co- ordination to form the letter shapes, but also to be able to write in a straight line with letters and words spaced neatly. In addition they need to be able to spell and to use grammar and punctuation correctly. Drawing Drawing helps a child to express feelings, be creative and develop fine manipulative skills. Practice will develop good pencil control which will form the basis of writing skills. Children are ready to draw as soon as then can hold a pencil or crayon, usually between the ages of 12 and 18 months. Most children begin to draw using both hands and will start to show a preference for either their right or left hand by about 18 months old. Most have a clear preference by about 3 years old. Learning to draw and write 180 Topic 5: Intellectual Development