Scribble with Imitation
Child copies scribbling back and forth on paper after watching an adult demonstrate
What the research says
Referenced across 1 developmental framework: asq_3
Full quotes, source languages, and document links coming soon as we finish the source-evidence indexing pass.
Before this (3)
Required (1)
- Crayon Mark MakingMin: emergingMust be able to make marks before imitating scribbling
Helpful
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Character (2)
How it's taught
Model scribbling back and forth on paper; provide large paper and chunky crayons; make scribbling a playful, exploratory activity
Materials: Crayons, pencils, or pens; large sheets of paper
What mastery looks like
Does not attempt to make marks or only mouths/bangs crayon
- Puts crayon in mouth
- Bangs crayon on paper without making marks
- Shows no interest in imitating scribbling
Makes occasional marks but doesn't clearly imitate back-and-forth motion
- Makes random marks or dots on paper
- Watches adult scribble but doesn't copy motion
- May make one or two strokes after demonstration
Imitates scribbling motion after demonstration, making back-and-forth marks
- Copies scribbling motion after watching adult
- Makes back-and-forth marks on paper
- Needs demonstration each time to initiate scribbling
Consistently imitates scribbling and may begin to scribble spontaneously
- Immediately copies scribbling after demonstration
- Makes sustained back-and-forth marks
- Beginning to scribble without demonstration
Scribbles spontaneously without demonstration and explores different mark-making
- Scribbles independently without being shown
- Experiments with different motions and pressures
- Shows interest in making various types of marks
Activities for this (12)
First Marks
Parent offers crayons or finger paint and the agent coaches the parent to observe toddler's first mark-making — scribbles, dots, lines — as expressions of early aesthetic creativity and motor control.
Free Scribbles
Parent provides crayons and paper for child to scribble freely, observing how child holds the crayon and moves arm during drawing. The agent coaches the parent to notice whole-hand grasp, shoulder-initiated arm movements, and exploratory color use — building foundational fine motor control and creative expression.
The mixture
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Crystal Art Creation
This helps work on fine motor skills by drawing and scribbling. Encouraging your child’s creativity and curiosity is essential for their cognitive and emotional development. Give your child dark-colored crayons and a blank sheet of paper. Let her draw freely, expr
Brushing Colors
This helps enhance creativity and imagination. Begin this activity by placing drops of different color paints on white sheets of paper. Ask your child to brush the drops of paint using an old tooth-brush. He will have a lot of fun creating creativ
Following the Rhythm
This helps learn to play musical instruments. Start this activity by giving your child musical instruments, allow her to play with them freely and then ask her to take her favorite. Now, explain that you will play some music and when the music so
Foam
This helps stimulate your child's corporal expression. Start this activity by sitting your toddler by a table and placing some shaving cream in front of him. Ask your child to make circular movements, up and down and from side to side with his hands, usin
Painting with Sponges
This helps stimulate your toddler's creativity. Begin this activity by taping a sheet of cardstock paper on the wall. Show your child how to paint and make stamps with sponge figures. Now allow him to try this and express his creativity! Take advan
Scribbling with a cup
This helps stimulate your child's scribbling abilities in a fun creative way. For this activity you will need markers, a white sheet of paper, and a foam cup. Begin by showing your little one how to trace circles inside the base of the cup. This will encourage her to practice m
Painting the pumpkin
This helps enhance creativity and imagination. Begin this activity by placing orange washable paint on the plate in front of your toddler and ask him to dip the tip of his toothbrush in the paint. Then, ask him to paint the image of the pumpkin wi
Pumpkin stamps
This helps exercise hand-eye coordination. Begin this activity by placing in front of your child the cardboard, a large plate with washable paint, and the halved pumpkin. Show him how to make stamps with different objects, starting with the ha
Halloween frame
This helps recognize the different family members. Begin this activity by explaining to your child that paintings and photographs go in a frame. Give him a previously cut cardboard frame and allow him to decorate it as he pleases using washable paint.
Formal assessments
No matching assessment items indexed yet.