You'll need
- Dot markers or bingo daubers
- Paper
Steps
- 1Set out a big sheet of paper and a few dot markers (bingo daubers work great too)
- 2Show your child how to press the marker down firmly and lift straight up to make a clean circle
- 3Let them go, free dotting on blank paper is the best starting point, no rules needed
- 4Once they've got the motion down, try drawing a simple shape (circle, line, letter) and let them fill it in with dots
- 5Make patterns together: red-blue-red-blue, or small-big-small-big
- 6Try making pictures from dots, a caterpillar is a row of dots, a flower is dots in a circle with a green dot stem
Why this works
Dot markers give vivid, instant results with every single press. There's no way to 'fail' at this, which builds art confidence in hesitant kids. The press-and-lift motion strengthens the same hand muscles used for writing, and the chunky grip is perfect for small hands that struggle with thin crayons or pencils.
Try also
- –Draw circles on the paper first and let them match dot colors to each circle
- –Make a dot caterpillar, then add googly eyes and pipe cleaner antennae
- –Practice letters and numbers by filling them in with dots
- –Do a rainbow: rows of dots in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple
- –Count the dots by color when you're finished for some easy counting practice
- –Use dot markers on cardboard or paper bags for a different texture feel
Use washable markers, they will get on hands, clothes, and tables. Protect surfaces with newspaper or a plastic mat.
