PPOD Tip February

PPOD TIP OF THE MONTH: DRAWING A CIRCLE
Once your toddler is good at imitating vertical and horizontal strokes, he is ready to
learn to draw a circle with a crayon. Most toddlers can do this at three years of age.
If your toddler is having difficulty remembering to only write on paper, consider letting
him practice scribbling on a Magna Doodle®, with Crayola® Color WonderTM markers, or
with washable crayons.
IDEAS
As a precursor to writing with a pencil, provide your toddler with opportunities to
draw with crayons. Let him draw with chunky, non-toxic crayons. Allow him to choose
which hand he uses to hold the crayon. Show him a circle and encourage him to make
one that looks the same. At first, his circle will be squiggly. With practice, the circle will
become smoother. In the beginning, he may not close the circle. Instead he may leave
the circle open, with the ends not touching. Help him learn to close the circle by making
the ends “kiss.” If the paper moves when he tries to draw, teach him how to use one
hand to hold the paper down so it won't move.
Another fun, safe way to practice scribbling and making circles is with soap
crayons. Your toddler can draw on the tub or tile and then you can simply wipe the
marks off with a wet washcloth. Please be sure to tell your toddler that these are soap
crayons and that they can only be used in the tub. If you don’t tell him this important bit
of information, you may find him drawing on the bedroom wall with them.
Learning to make circles can be fun with edible finger paints. Pudding, whipped
cream, applesauce, and yogurt all make great finger paints. Simply put the finger paint
on a cookie sheet or the tray of my highchair and let me practice. If I am drawing circles,
and I don’t close the ends of the circle, let me practice making the ends kiss. If the ends
kiss, then let me lick my finger.
You may want to put a large towel or plastic tablecloth under the highchair or table
where I am using edible finger paints. You may also want to put a big bib or smock on
me. On a warm day, you might consider allowing me to do this in my diaper or
underwear. Each of these suggestions will make cleaning up a little bit easier. Often the
easiest way to clean me after drawing with edible finger paint is to give me a bath.
When it’s nice outside, let me practice drawing circles with chalk on the
sidewalk. You can also let me practice with a bucket of water and a paintbrush. I will be
amazed when my watermarks disappear.
Learning to sit on the toilet to go potty will be more fun if I have something to
do. Let me practice drawing circles on a Magna Doodle®.
SAFETY
When using crayons, I still need supervision. I may decide that the wall or a chair
cushion would make a good writing surface. Watch me carefully and teach me to only
use crayons to write on paper.
For a free subscription to PPOD, go to www.myppod.com. PPOD
contains 108 key developmental milestones; each with hints, warm
activities, and safety tips.