Helpful Signs

1. 1

   Gather paper, drawing tools, and a small toy character. During pretend play, give the character simple problems and invite your child to draw signs that can help.

2. 2

   Explore different purposes for signs: showing a place, explaining a rule, or giving a helpful reminder.

3. 3

   Create a problem that matches each kind of sign so your child has a meaningful reason to communicate through marks and pictures.

4. 4

   For example, pretend the character cannot find the bathroom and ask your child to make a sign.

5. 5

   Your child might draw a toilet or use circles and lines as a symbol. Let the character look at it and say, “I understand—the bathroom is over there!”

6. 6

   If your child has an idea but cannot draw it yet, talk together about what picture or mark might communicate the meaning.

7. 7

   After several rounds, your child can begin to discover that a drawn symbol can carry an idea from one person to another.

What to notice

• Draws a circle to represent the restroom location Writing
• Draws simple lines with a drawing tool Fine Motor

Tips

• At three and a half, children may not write conventional words yet, but pictures, symbols, numbers, and simple marks can already communicate meaning.
• Before drawing, ask, “What could you put on the sign so the animal knows this is the bathroom?”

Developmental benefits

• Language: Drawing a sign for a specific need gives your child practice using pictures, symbols, or simple marks to communicate a message.
• Movement: Holding a drawing tool and controlling lines while making signs gives your child practice with fine-motor coordination.