ABSTRACT

All children draw spontaneously. In its most basic form making marks is as natural as making sounds, gestures, and movements. Given a surface and a means of making a mark, any child will leave a trace of its drawing activity, a visual record of its contact with that surface. This is true of children regardless of their cognitive, social, visual, or even physical abilities. Children will also draw on virtually any surface regardless of whether that surface allows for permanent record of their activity. They will for example draw in food or sand using their finger of a stick, they will also use any substance that will leave a trace, often to the chagrin of their parents. In short it is rarely if ever something that they have to be taught. Why do children draw and what are the characteristics of this universally innate activity?