The essential role of scribbling in the imaginative and cognitive development of young children

Abstract

This paper sets out to explore the thinking underpinning young children’s earliest drawings, often regarded as ‘scribbling.’ It questions whether the physical satisfaction of making marks is sufficient reward for this often repeated activity, or whether with each repetition children intend deeper meanings not apparent to the eyes of the adult beholder. The narrative, which frequently accompanies such drawings, indicates that far from being merely a mark-making activity, the scribbled work represents for children a means of communicating a story or an experience. Examination of the dual activity of drawing and talking forms the basis of a research study which highlights the contribution that observation can make towards our understanding of young children’s learning.