The Importance Of Drawing In Children’s Development

Often, only when it’s raining outside and the usual favorite toys are no longer cutting it, do the paper and crayons come out. According to experts in child development and psychology, however, far from being just a fun activity, drawing plays an important role in children’s development—helping them communicate, learn, and remember.

Plus, it’s an inexpensive activity that requires no more than some paper and crayons!

Drawing Helps Develop Fine Motor Skills

Most children start making their first scribbles between the ages of 12 and 18 months, although there’s no reason not to encourage them to pick up a crayon and start drawing sooner than that. Holding a crayon or paintbrush helps develop the small muscles in the hand that are essential for fine motor skills.

Beginning with scribbles, progressing to lines and circles, and then objects and people—the more a child draws, the more their fine motor skills develop, preparing them for learning to write.

Drawing Helps Improve Hand-Eye Coordination

Hand-eye coordination is important for all kinds of everyday tasks, from getting dressed and tying shoelaces to eating, playing sports, and doing schoolwork. Developing hand-eye coordination takes practice, and drawing gives children a chance to connect what they see with what they do.

Drawing can also help build concentration skills. For example, encouraging your child to draw an object in front of them teaches them to focus on small details and concentrate on achieving a result.

Drawing Helps Memory

Research has found that children share more information about events they’ve experienced when they’re asked to draw and talk about them at the same time.

Drawing can also help them process how they feel about things. For instance, drawing a family pet can trigger memories and emotions tied to that animal, helping children reflect and express themselves.

Drawing Helps Children Express Themselves

For young children—or those who are non-verbal for other reasons—drawing is a powerful tool to communicate thoughts and feelings. With time and practice, kids can create increasingly detailed drawings that show what they’ve seen or experienced.

Drawing Encourages Imagination and Creativity

Putting crayons to paper lets children explore how they see and understand the world. Experts recommend giving them plain paper so their creativity isn’t limited. Colored paper and a variety of drawing tools—like crayons, markers, and paints—help them experiment and think critically about color choices. Asking your child questions about their drawing also builds vocabulary and communication skills.

Drawing Builds Problem-Solving Skills

As children begin drawing more complex scenes, they naturally work through challenges—what colors to choose, how to draw a house, how many legs a dog has, or even concepts like scale and perspective. These problem-solving experiences prepare kids for school and beyond.

How to Encourage Your Child to Draw

Research from Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology Richard Jolley and Senior Lecturer Sarah Rose shows that “children whose parents spent more time with them while they drew enjoyed it more.” While it’s best not to draw for your child or tell them what to draw, just sitting beside them and talking about what they’re doing can be hugely beneficial.

Drawing Is an Inexpensive and Eco-Friendly Activity

One of the best things about drawing is that it’s low-cost and low-impact. All you need is paper and something to draw with. While you can buy new supplies, scraps of paper or old cardboard boxes work just as well. You can proudly display finished pieces on the fridge or wall, and anything discarded can go in your curbside recycling bin. In the U.S., about 60-64% of paper and 69%-74% of cardboard get recycled—so you’re helping the planet while they create.

Don’t wait for a rainy day—get the paper and crayons out and watch your child’s imagination come to life! Want an easy way to get your kids coloring? Visit our Creations page to find printable coloring pages.