Scribbling and early drawing: how the skill grows from 12 to 36 months
Scribbling and early drawing means making marks with a crayon, from accidental dots and swipes to loops and a copied circle. Scribbling strengthens the grip and shows a child that their own movement leaves a trace on paper.
Updated
Scribbling and early drawing: the ladder, step by step
Pick the step that looks most like your child today. The next step and activities that practise it appear below.
No step picked yet. There is no wrong answer: pick the closest one.
Next step: Marks on purpose. Watches the crayon tip while dragging it and stops to look at the line it made.
Activities that fit this step
- Taped-Down First Scribbles · 14–24 months · 5–10 min
- Water Painting Walls and Steps · 14–24 months · 5–12 min
- Baking Sheet Finger Painting · 15–24 months · 5–12 min
Next step: Back-and-forth strokes. Fills a patch of the page with quick up-and-down or side-to-side scribbles.
Activities that fit this step
- Water Painting Walls and Steps · 14–24 months · 5–12 min
- Baking Sheet Finger Painting · 15–24 months · 5–12 min
- Big Paper Brush Painting · 18–30 months · 5–15 min
Next step: Round and round. Makes loops and spirals and may announce what the scribble is meant to be.
Activities that fit this step
- Big Paper Brush Painting · 18–30 months · 5–15 min
- Copy My Crayon Line · 24–34 months · 5–10 min
- Crayon Leaf Rubbings · 24–36 months · 5–12 min
Next step: Copies a shape. Watches you draw a circle, then draws one that closes or nearly closes.
Activities that fit this step
- Copy My Crayon Line · 24–34 months · 5–10 min
- Crayon Leaf Rubbings · 24–36 months · 5–12 min
- Trace Around the Lid · 26–36 months · 5–12 min
Top of the ladder (copies a shape). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- Crayon Leaf Rubbings · 24–36 months · 5–12 min
- Trace Around the Lid · 26–36 months · 5–12 min
- Chalk Lines and Water Brush · 28–36 months · 10–20 min
The scribbling and early drawing ladder
5 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 12 to 36 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
-
Taps the crayon
Holds a crayon in a fist and bangs it on the paper, leaving a dot almost by accident.
-
Marks on purpose
Watches the crayon tip while dragging it and stops to look at the line it made.
-
Back-and-forth strokes
Fills a patch of the page with quick up-and-down or side-to-side scribbles.
-
Round and round
Makes loops and spirals and may announce what the scribble is meant to be.
-
Copies a shape
Watches you draw a circle, then draws one that closes or nearly closes.
When scribbling and early drawing usually shows up
Many children scribble with a crayon by about 18 months (a CDC 18-month milestone). Copying a circle after watching an adult draw one is a CDC 3-year milestone; in between, marks change from swipes to round, more controlled loops.
This page follows scribbling and early drawing from 12 to 36 months, a window that spans the 12-month, 15-month, 18-month, 24-month, 30-month and 36-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 8 activities practise scribbling and early drawing (4 as their main skill), for ages 14 to 36 months. Each needs a few minutes of setup. By age, they sit closest to steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the 5-step ladder.
Related items appear on the CDC checklists for 18 months and 36 months.
Related milestones
CDC checklist items (paraphrased) that involve scribbling and early drawing. Checklists are for monitoring, not a test.
| Checklist | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 18 months | Makes scribbles with a crayon. |
| 36 months | Copies a circle on paper after watching you draw one. |
Activities that practise scribbling and early drawing
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 5 creativity & pretend and 3 fine motor. Quickest to start: Copy My Crayon Line (5–10 minutes).
Step 2: Marks on purpose
Step 3: Back-and-forth strokes
Step 4: Round and round
Step 5: Copies a shape
Skills practised alongside
The activities for scribbling and early drawing most often also work on painting (4), cause and effect (3), colors and shapes (3), imitating actions (3) and naming things (1). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Tape a big sheet to the table or floor so the paper stays put and both hands are free.
- Sit beside your child with your own crayon and draw slowly; a model to copy works better than instructions.
- Offer chunky crayons or thick chalk that a fist can hold; a fist grip is normal for a long time.
- Comment on the marks themselves ("a long line", "round and round") instead of asking what the picture is.
What to avoid
- Correcting the grip or the drawing; the hand finds a more mature grip with use, not with corrections.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
Mention it to the pediatrician if your child makes no marks with a crayon by about 18 months, or cannot copy a circle after watching you draw one by age 3, or if scribbling stops after it had started.
Worried about scribbling and early drawing between visits? Call the pediatrician; CDC's free resources also explain how to contact your local Early Intervention program directly. Milestones are for monitoring, not diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers start scribbling and early drawing?
Many children scribble with a crayon by about 18 months (a CDC 18-month milestone). Copying a circle after watching an adult draw one is a CDC 3-year milestone; in between, marks change from swipes to round, more controlled loops. The first step to look for: holds a crayon in a fist and bangs it on the paper, leaving a dot almost by accident.
How can I help my toddler with scribbling and early drawing?
Tape a big sheet to the table or floor so the paper stays put and both hands are free. Sit beside your child with your own crayon and draw slowly; a model to copy works better than instructions. A good first activity is Taped-Down First Scribbles (14–24 months).
What should I avoid when practising scribbling and early drawing?
Correcting the grip or the drawing; the hand finds a more mature grip with use, not with corrections.
When should I mention scribbling and early drawing to the pediatrician?
Mention it to the pediatrician if your child makes no marks with a crayon by about 18 months, or cannot copy a circle after watching you draw one by age 3, or if scribbling stops after it had started. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.