By Mercy Arthur
Tema, Nov. 05, GNA — Drawing and colorings activities play an important role in preschool children’s learning and development, particularly in building fine motor skills needed for writing, a headteacher has said.
Madam Mabel Kyeraah Twum, the Headteacher of Padmore Street Primary School, said such activities also provided children with opportunities to express their thoughts, feelings and ideas before they acquired the ability to communicate effectively through writing.
She told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that drawing encouraged children to make decisions about colours, shapes, sizes and objects, thereby stimulating their creativity and thinking abilities.
She said the activities also improved hand-eye coordination as children learnt to hold pencils, control their hand movements and develop the skills needed for writing letters and words.
Madam Twum said drawing and writing should complement each other to make learning meaningful and enjoyable, rather than treating the activities as alternatives.
“Drawing should not replace writing completely because both activities have important roles in learners’ development,” she said.
She urged parents to support their children’s learning by providing appropriate materials, including pencils and crayons, and guiding them through homework activities.
She cautioned parents against completing their children’s drawing assignments on their behalf merely to make the work appear more attractive, saying that doing so deprived the children of opportunities to practice and develop their skills.
Madam Rebecca Annorbea, a Kindergarten Two facilitator at Chastin Intellectuals Academy, said allowing preschool children to complete drawing activities independently helped them develop problem-solving skills.
She said children learnt to make decisions, including selecting colours and determining how to represent objects, while the activities also provided a safe space for them to express their feelings, build confidence and explore their creativity.
The two educators encouraged parents and preschool facilitators to work together to make drawing and colouring regular learning activities both at school and at home.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Mercy Arthur, GNA