Go Figure

Up until a few weeks ago, Nels did not seem to enjoy drawing.  He has a very good vocabulary, nice manners, and is a whiz with Legos, but when it came to drawing, all he could do was write his name or draw a storm.  His storms look just like you'd imagine they might:  a mass of scribbles on a piece of paper.

I'm not one of those pushy parents who think their kids need to do everything and do it well, but it did make me a little bit sad that drawing didn't seem to be his thing AT ALL.  It seemed a little un-American for a kid not to like to draw.

Then, about three weeks ago, Nels said, "Mom, come see the picture I drew!"   I readied myself to be politely interested in the formless scribbles of yet another storm.

He led me to the Magna Doodle.  "Look!  There's a building on fire.  See the flames?  And there are people at the windows.  And here's the fire truck.  It has a ladder.  And a fireman driving it." 

I just about fell over.  His detailed elaboration wasn't even necessary, because I could easily tell what everything was.  

Now, I don't know if it was the magic of turning 5, or if it's due to all of the writing practice he's getting at school.  All I know is that he seems to enjoy drawing now.  And that makes me happy, because it is an inexpensive and portable way for a child to entertain himself throughout childhood.

I didn't think to take a picture of that first great drawing, but here are some recent ones; a battleship and a tank:

Now if only I could interest him in some less violent subject matter.