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SeaStar
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| Posted: Aug 24 2007 at 7:54pm | IP Logged
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This issue recently came up at my house: my ds, 4.5yrs, wanting to make a "real book" with pictures and words. I told him: great, you draw the pictures and tell me the story, and I'll write the words for you under the pictures. I even printed out some Montessori drawing paper for him to use (upper half is blank for the picture, lower half has ruled lines).
Well, he was in tears wanting me to help him draw a teddy bear. I tried to help him every which way, even drawing a bear in light pencil so he could trace over it. But he kept saying he couldn't do the lines right; his were all wobbly. So I tried to tell him that was OK, all artists have wobbly lines, just do your best, etc. THEN, as the tears were pouring down his face, he actually pointed to a Van Gogh print we have on the fridge and said, "Vincent Van Gogh's lines are straight!"
At this point I didn't know what to do or say. I put the paper away and switched to another activity, but two days later he still is bringing up every now and then how he wanted to make a book, but I wouldn't help him draw (but always saying he forgives me) 
I am so at a loss at how to deal with this. We do lots of arts and crafts, and I never thought that a 4.5 yr old would need formal drawing lessons. I have the Artistic Pursuits Volume one that I plan to start after we move.
Is there another program that focuses solely on drawing? I have talked to him about how I did try to help him, but in his mind there was just some type of help he was wanting that he couldn't communicate to me or I didn't get. This is so frustrating- he loves art, and I don't want to ruin that, but I honestly don't know what he is looking for here.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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lapazfarm
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Joined: July 21 2005
Location: Alaska
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| Posted: Aug 24 2007 at 8:23pm | IP Logged
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Check out Draw.Write.Now and see if it fits what you are looking for. It has step-by step instructions for drawing simple figures, as well as some lines for copywork. I am starting it with dd this year.
Do you have your metal insets yet? Working with these should really help strengthen his hand for drawing. Perhaps for now he would be satisfied making lovely pictures with them?
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Aug 24 2007 at 8:29pm | IP Logged
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I introduced the insets the other day, and they really threw him off. He was excited but also very frustrated that his parallel lines weren't straight across... which led into wanting to make a "real book" book with words and pictures. He has not wanted to try the insets again. But I will definitely check out the DWN program. Thanks.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Aug 24 2007 at 8:42pm | IP Logged
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aaaaahhhh....I have had the same problem with my 3.5 yr old for the past 6 months or so. She SO wants to be like the older girls, but isn't able to.
The insets have worked a bit. Also, I got some block crayons and encouraged the older girls to do big strokes with them and just do patches of color.
A couple months ago, I laid out about 7 feet of rolled butcher paper and we just scribbled with fat crayons. I try to do this with her/them every couple of weeks.
Can you divert him to other less specific art activities. Large paintbrushes, collage, fingerpaint, playdough......try to get away from the drawing for now? How about focusing on patches of color? Blending? Shapes?
Also, what about tracing from drawing books???? We bought a few of the drawing books from Rainbow Resources and she sometimes likes to trace instead of drawing them herself, but this also gets her frustrated.
I'll be interested in other ideas too. It's very frustrating and heart-breaking.
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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CKwasniewski
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| Posted: Aug 25 2007 at 6:02pm | IP Logged
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You might also check out Drawing with Children, by Mona Brookes. It can be used even from this young age. You probably can get it from your library.
hth
cK
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: Need drawing help- or just help!
