Ages: 2-6+
Materials: Markers/pencils, paper and rubber bands
Drawing is something that takes place in our house on a daily basis.
The freedom, creativity, therapy, exploration and skills found within free drawing make it appealing on every level.
Every now and again I like to mix things up and let Maddie explore a different way of drawing that she hadn't thought of yet. Today, it's 'Drawing in Bunches'.
I provided some markers already in a "bunch" to demonstrate the new technique of drawing that we were trying today.
Maddie's first move was to attempt to make her own bunch.
This was tricky so she moved on to the pre-prepared bunch and practiced different techniques
Swirling
Dotting
and Striping
The most challenging part was using her fine motor skills and hand, eye coordination to bunch the textas together.
Handy Tips:
- Simplify this activity by providing the markers already in bunches. Allow your child to pick the colour combinations and demonstrate to them how you tie them together with a rubber band. You could also use much smaller rubber bands or hair ties that need to be looped less times
- Extend this activity by having your child make up the bunches themselves. Encourage them to think about colour choice and combinations. Look at the different effects you can get depending on the number of different markers in your bunch
- Teach your child the method of using rubber bands. Loop, pull, twist, loop, pull, twist, loop... etc.
- Challenge your child to come up with a pattern that they can use to decorate an entire piece of paper with. Use this design for homemade wrapping paper etc.Talk to them about what makes a pattern.
- Change the writing or drawing
materials to see the differences it makes to their design and creativity
- Listen to your child talk as they go through their
experiences. This will help you determine where they are at with their
learning, knowledge and understanding and help you to develop the activity (or
future activities) to their level and interests.
Happy playing,
Debs :)
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