Draw My Wish
Draw and talk with your child about who they would like to be or what they would like to do.
- 3 years
- Quick prep
- At home
- About 30 minutes
Developmental benefits
- Language：Drawing and talking together gives your child practice using lines and shapes to represent an idea and explaining what the picture means.
- Cognitive：Adding details in response to open questions helps your child turn separate marks into an imagined person, event, or story.
Preparation
What You’ll Need
- 1
Drawing paper, a box of markers
Step 1
I Want to Be a Firefighter
Your child may bring you a scribble that looks like a patch of color but means something important to them. Begin by describing what you notice and asking one curious question, such as, “I see a big circle here. What is it?” Then let your child tell you about the picture.
What to notice
- Becomes deeply engaged in the drawing activity
Initiative and Curiosity - Uses a line or circle to represent a firefighter
Emergent Literacy
Tips
- Do not decide what the picture means for your child. Stay curious and let them explain what they drew.
Step 2
Firefighters on a Mission
After your child answers, follow their idea with a related question, such as, “Where is the fire truck going?” Give them time to think. If they need help, add a possibility: “Maybe it’s going to put out a fire.” Then let them keep drawing and talking.
What to notice
- Imagines a firefighter putting out a fire
Creativity - Says what they are drawing as they work Emergent Literacy
Tips
- Ask one question at a time. Wait for your child’s answer before asking another.
- One word is enough. You can expand it slightly to offer inspiration, then let your child continue.
Step 3
Turn the Picture into a Story
When your child feels finished, look over the whole picture together. Invite them to choose one part they most want to share. After they explain it, connect a few details they mentioned so they can hear how separate marks can become a small story.
What to notice
- Tells you the part they most want to share
Communicating and Speaking - Pinches the drawing tool between the thumb and fingers to make marks
Fine Motor
Tips
- Let your child choose what to share and decide what matters most in the picture.
- Your child does not need to explain the picture in order or describe every part.
- As the activity winds down, let your child decide whether the picture is finished. Ask, “Would you like to add anything else, or are you all done?”
Better Parenting Content Team · Updated September 11, 2026