Is it weird that she's not interested in writing? - Page 2

[AllisonR]

Could be age + personality. But your saying she doesn't do beads, stickers, play dough, scissors... for more than a few minutes; this might make me want to get an evaluation.

Personality - I have a perfectionist DS, and he did NOTHING but scribble a few hashes. And this was very RARELY (like 3xs a year). He also did not do beads, clay... but he did like legos and could build amazing stuff. Then one day (around age 4) he drew a face in the ice with a stick. It was perfectly symmetrical, with half moon smile and 2 dots exactly above the ends of the mouth. In only two or three months he was drawing a lot, and drawing well. I think it was personality - he didn't see a point in drawing until he could do it well.

I also have a DD, who is almost 4, and not a perfectionist. She does not care about drawing either, but for different reasons. She is just sloppy. She prefers talking to all things, and prefers writing to drawing. So she writes letters and numbers, but they are often backwards, and sloppy. And she is that permanent tadpole stage where there is a simple head, eyes, mouth, two stick arms coming out the sides and two stick legs coming sort of out the bottom. DS never went through this phase at all, and DD is in this phase forever. But she just does not care about making nice drawings, she'd rather make a scribble and then spend 10 minutes explaining the scene to me instead. So IMO, personality is a huge contributor to drawing and writing.

[arniflora]

Originally Posted by earthgirl

FTR, I do think she will eventually be interested in it, but there is a tiny part of me that is a little bit concerned for some reason.

Trust your instincts, mama.

From what you describe, it seems to be a fine motor skill (FMS) issue. She may appear to be a "perfectionist" because she is having so much trouble and it is frustrating her. This isn't something that she may even realize the need to articulate about.

I agree with the pp's who suggested getting her evaluated by an OT. If you don't want to do that (yet), then I would suggest that, every day, you engage her in a FMS activity for as long as she will do it. Don't make a big deal about her doing it or not, but if she gets frustrated, ask her what it is about that activity that is frustrating. If it lasts 5 minutes, that's great. If it lasts longer, even better. Don't have any expectations; think of it as what it is - exercise for her muscles.

I'm sure if you google "fine motor skill exercises" you'll find a plethera of ideas. Choose a few that you think she will enjoy, keep it fun, light and when she's done, let it be done. But do it (or a different exercise) again the next day.

For your own info (and useful to an OT if you decide to go to one at some point), keep a record of what exercise she did, for how long, her frustration level and any improvement (longer duration, easier for her, less frustration, etc.) over time. You should be able to see a pattern within a few weeks and that will help you figure out what your next step(s) will be.

Good luck! And do trust your instincts.

[fritz]

Seconding the idea of getting a whiteboard/dry erase board. (Or trying something other than paper.)

My 5.5yo DS was never much of a drawer either. He'd scribble with a marker or a pen. Hated pencils and crayons. Early reader. He started trying to write about a year ago, but rarely did any writing until I bought him a whiteboard. (It's about the size of a notebook--got it at Michael's.)

Now he's writing a few times a week instead of once a month. His letter formation has improved a great deal. He loves being able to "erase" letters that come out wrong. And he likes that it's stiff enough he can write anywhere (he prefers the floor). He's also drawing almost every day now (instead of a couple times a month).

I wasn't concerned about his fine motor skills though--he spends hours every day building Lego creations, he frequently plays with silly putty and playdough, he has no trouble picking up small beads and buttons...and my mom is an OT, specializing in working with little kids =).

Yes, early intervention (if it's needed) is the way to go. Depending on where you live, kids birth to age 3 can qualify for state assistance with early intervention services. Otherwise, check with your insurance company.

[earth2birth]

Nope, totally normal I feel. Just see what else she is interested in. Does she like to paint, play with clay, etc.. So many kids just are interested in other stuff at four.

[cappuccinosmom]

That sounds like my middle child. He's 5, so I have seen some changes. He went from big, broad scribbles to occasionally drawing recognizeable stick figures, and from a refusal to write to at least a willingness to learn. .

The biggest change actually happened Friday. He recieved some big, chunky, triangular crayons (Melissa & Doug brand, if you want to try them) and for the first time in his life decided on his own initiative to draw. I knew they'd be easier for him to use, but I was not prepared for the difference they made. Not only did he enjoy drawing, he also went on to neatly color in the lines in his math work, which is something he's never done before.

I knew he was behind with the small-motor skills. I don't know why it took me so long to figure out that regular crayons and pencils just frustrated him. From now on he'll be using the chunky crayons, and I'm going to get him some fat pencils for writing.

[ecoteat]

I've been wondering about this too. DD is almost 4.5 and has shown no change in what she can creat on paper. When you give her paper and things to draw with (crayons and colored pencils of all sizes or fat markers), she still just scribbles, and usually very lightly. She can form a few sloppy letters and can write her name when coached through it, but it is barely readable and the letters are never less than 3 inches tall. She has drawn a few people, but they are just a circle with dots for eyes, a line for a mouth, a scribble for hair, and sticks coming out of the circle with arms and legs. She's been doing it the same way for 2 years.

She is VERY verbal. She was talking very clearly very early on. She's almost sounding words out to read them and will sit with books and "read" for hours. She can sound simple words out to spell them. But I've been wondering if her writing/drawing skills are up to par. She goes to a Waldorf preschool, so the broad sweeping watercolor paintings they are making are totally within her capabilities.

There is a tiny part of me that is concerned too. I see the work the kindergarten kids do in the school I teach at and I can't imagine her being able to do that at the rate she's developing in that area. But then I remind myself that these things develop in fits and spurts and I think I should be patient. So no answers for you, OP, but plenty of understanding!

[Daffodil]

Originally Posted by ecoteat

I've been wondering about this too. DD is almost 4.5 and has shown no change in what she can creat on paper. When you give her paper and things to draw with (crayons and colored pencils of all sizes or fat markers), she still just scribbles, and usually very lightly. She can form a few sloppy letters and can write her name when coached through it, but it is barely readable and the letters are never less than 3 inches tall. She has drawn a few people, but they are just a circle with dots for eyes, a line for a mouth, a scribble for hair, and sticks coming out of the circle with arms and legs. She's been doing it the same way for 2 years.

She is VERY verbal. She was talking very clearly very early on. She's almost sounding words out to read them and will sit with books and "read" for hours.

That sounds just like my DS at 4.5, except that he mostly refused to try any writing or drawing at that age. Suddenly, when he was about 3 months away from turning 5, he got interested in writing and drawing, and started to do both a lot. He's progressed fast since then. It really can happen all of a sudden. (He was also a good talker early on, and has been able to sound out simple words since at least 3.5. I don't think either of those things necessarily has any connection to using a pencil.)