Crayons vs Ink Markers

[jrchalker]

I am not a professional teacher, but have taught and worked with preschool Sunday School children (mostly three year olds) for over 25 years.

Based on my own observations, it seems to me that children need to learn to use color crayons before they start using colored ink markers.

The children all seem to prefer the markers, but my "instinct" tells me they are missing an important development step by not learning to use crayons first.

Would someone like to give me an opinion on this topic?

Crayons are harder for children to use so it builds their fine motor strength and coordination. It is a good thing for them to work their muscles. On the other hand, the frustration can discourage them from expressing themselves through drawing and beginning writing. Markers are easier, keep their point better, and allow the children to be successful. I think they need both. I agree with you- they prefer markers. But I prefer the easier tool most times too. The best way to encourage crayon use is to model it, and to have them consistently available.

[Diane]

My dck's would hardly ever want to color until I bought the markers. When I tried to use only crayons they would mostly sit there trying to peel the paper off... LOL Now I put BOTH on the table and let them choose for themselves. A few will use a little bit of both while others will only use the crayons. I have to admit that I had never thought of crayons being harder for the children to use OR how it could build their fine motor strength and coordination... just thought of it as coloring, but it is a good thought. :)

Bye... :wave:

[Ryleigh]

At our dc we have a free creative centre where the children can pick and choose their own creative materials and create whatever their hearts desire. There is a daily structured creative craft offered as well.
We offer the choice of several different drawing mediums including: markers, crayons, pencil crayons, pastels, chalk, different colored pens and bingo daubers.
Markers tend to be the fav. of beginners but the pencil crayons and colored pens are quite popualr right now.
They will often use a mixture of the different mediums.

[Cheryl B]

I agree with your observation that most prefer markers. One boy said it fills up the paper faster. Another just liked the different smells.

The favourite picture creating medium here is paint. They spend more time creating and using more than one colour on every painting big or small.

For the past 8 years I ran my own home daycare.
Before that I taught in a Nursery School for a number of years. I have always used the same progression when it came to fine motor colouring skills. First with babies or in September at the school I'd set out blank paper and fat chalk, followed by fat wax crayons, thin wax crayons, markers then pencil crayons. Once every medium was explored fully I would put everything out and I find in most cases the younger ones put a bit of everything on their paper. The older ones gravitate to markers. Now the big favourite here are those gel pens.

[JeannieOR]

The kids in the nursery I used to volunteer in prefered markers as well. But I did have luck getting them to use short, fat, stuby crayons. I wish I knew the brand. They were 2 inches long with no paper and a flat, tapered end. They fit snuggly in little hands and they layed down color very easily.

[Diane]

Some of my kids like to use chalk as well... especially if I give them a black (or dark colored) piece of construction paper. Of course... they get as full of the chalk as is on the paper but oh well... their having fun! LOL No paper to peel off from them either. LOL

Diane... :wave: