What are the 5 Stages of Child Development? | How Child Develops
Sep 20, 2025By Kanika Gautam
According to the American Association of Pediatrics, scribbling is a vital milestone in child development, typically emerging between 12-16 months. Scribbling lays the foundation for future writing skills, fine motor development, and cognitive growth. As a parent, you play a significant role in helping children achieve each milestone. Here are activities which can encourage scribbling:
CDC-Recommended Activities for Encouraging Scribbling
Given below are some simple activities which would encourage your toddler to develop a skill of scribbling
- Crayon and paper play: Provide large crayons and paper. Allow your child to draw random shapes and draw with them.
- Finger painting: Explore textures and colors of paper and materials like crayons or paints. You have let your child paint simple things like flowers and butterflies using their fingers as the medium
- Scribble boards: You can use chalk or whiteboard markers instead of pen and paper for drawing and scribbling.
- Drawing simple shapes: Encourage your child to draw simple things like circles, squares, and lines.
- Imitation drawing: Copy simple shapes and lines while encouraging your child to copy you.
- Storytelling through drawing: You can encourage narrative storytelling and correlate it with simple drawings.
- Make it fun: Incorporate games and challenges so that scribbling doesn't feel like a tedious task to learn for your child.
- Provide opportunities: Offer various materials and surfaces to your child for exploring.
- Encourage experimentation: Explore various different techniques and which one your child might enjoy.
- Praise progress: Celebrate small achievements of your child.
Conclusion
Scribbling is a crucial milestone in child development. By incorporating these recommended activities into your daily routine, you'll nurture your child's fine motor, cognitive, and creative skills.
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