Anyone had experience of this?

Several supermarkets are selling magic books, just 'paint' on water. Picture disappears after a while. They practise counting, alphabet etc.

Missed a bit not interested

Ive had 7 children-got 8 GC and some like drawing some dont- its not a big problem,maybe later if school mention it to HER PARENT then yes im sure if theres any difficulty it will be sorted.but right now just enjoy her company.some kids dont take to drawing (my 15 yr old is one) his motor skills were never great and he couldnt keep in the lines of colouring books so disliked them! He was so relieved at school when art became a choice so he simply didnt choose it! Not everyones arty;live with it.

My GD isn’t interested in art. A colouring book when she was small, I used to encourage her but she was interested.
Primary school she would do a few things but had no interest at at all. When she got to secondary school is was quite upsetting the art teacher would shout at her and moan, she did ring me about the lesson and I explained that she is not interested and I said she insist she cannot draw.
I got a bit annoyed with the teacher because she kept putting my gd down.
If they don’t like a lesson they dig there heels in. Now English she loves writes lots of story’s and songs.
She at 6th form college now and doing very well.

One of my boys wouldn't read at Infant school, although he could read perfectly well at home, neither would he draw. Went to university to study Environmental care and Land use. He's now a stone mason, much in demand for his excellent work. He used to spend hours in the garden and shed putting things together. At three years of age he made a sewing machine from Stickle Bricks (never see them now)you could turn a handlle and the needle moved up and down. He has a library of about 500 books in his home now, all of which have been read. No worries, let the child do what he/she likes best.

My granddaughter at that age had no interest in colouring or crafts although she loved Lego and Playdoh - now at 7 there is no stopping her when it comes to crafts!

If she enjoys making up stories maybe she'd be interested in using fuzzy felt to 'act' them and share them with you.

Perhaps she would like to try something musical - a xylophone perhaps and some manufacturers make boxes of simple musical instruments.

My older DGD liked making hand puppets from kits, the hole were pre-punched and the needle very large for little fingers to manage. She then put on puppet shows for us.

I'm with your granddaughter on this: drawing, colouring, painting or any other craft activity was the bane of my life as a youngster. I had no talent for art and no interest and just wanted to be left alone to read my book.

Hello Jeanie59 - Please begin another thread otherwise your post may be overlooked on here and that would be a shame.

(Go to FORUMS, click on HEALTH and then click the button for new discussions and create a title - then post your question.)

My husband is 78 next month and I am 62.
He has COPD, and gave up smoking when he was diagnosed nearly 3 yrs ago,
He now has CKD, chronic kidney disease.
He us waiting to see a specialist, which is in a couple of weeks
Do any GN have or know of anyone with this condition and what do we need to know?

Sorry, I meant to say that although sewing is a craft activity, it is making something useful rather than something out of toilet rolls which doesn't have any purpose at all. Not sure if a 4 year old would think like that, but I always encouraged my kids to make things with a purpose, and taught them to sew on buttons, etc. They are grateful for it and are better with a needle than their wives!

I hated drawing and painting. Still do. My leaning was towards music. Sounds like your in DGD is either into acting or fashion. Try her with simple sewing activities, making clothes for dolls or teddies, or a threading a pretty bracelet or making something she can wear herself.

She may be interested in gardening, or, if, as someone has said, she doesn't, like getting messy, and is possibly frustrated with her drawing attempts, show her how to use a ruler and make neat squares and patterns. I once spent a whole rainy week at my Aunt's doing that when I was about 7.

Perhaps she just doesn't like getting messy with paint and glue.

Goodness me don’t get your knickers in a twist about this all kids are different thankfully Let her go down whatever route she wants, there is no right or wrongs
Why get them to draw some are never without a pencil others never pick one up why should that be a problem
She ll find her levels and her loves
I was an avid reader, in the loo, under the sheets, every waking minute I have seven grandkids all can read perfectly well but not one enjoys reading a book ?

DD used to ask me to 'do some craft please' with DGS - I don't know who got more bored, him or me.

I did try though, and used to ask him to show me what I was meant to be doing and he used to enjoy doing that for a while 'Look, you do it this way Gran'!

Sorry about incorrect punctuation in above. Said DGS was trying to be nosey and read what I was typing, which I obviously did not want him to do!

My 7 year old DGS was like this unlike his twin sister. He loves cars, car parks and maps etc. So we got him drawing those. He will now choose to draw sometimes of his own volition though his repertoire is limited! His writing skills are still poor but improving.
Can you build on her interests in this way.

My GS wasn’t interested in art at all as a young pre-school child. He’s just lifted an Art Award at secondary school.

Why would you worry,? she is 4 years old, plenty of time for plenty of changes.
If has she has access to all manner of educational items then she will find her own way
Also it has just occurred to me that she has picked up on your attempts to get her to do it & she is showing a strong will that she doesn’t want to / isn’t going to comply with her dear Gran.

Two of my DCs are left handed and we first noticed that life was a bit harder for them when DS1 started playgroup. The teacher said he was slow with things like shoelaces and
using scissors. He hated getting dirt on his hands too so messy play was out.
He was very bright and articulate so we didn't worry unduly. He is now a successful man, a great dad with many friends. His wife does all the housework however, and he doesn't do DIY.

One of my grandchildren was just like this. She had zero interest in drawing but has a wonderful imagination and has always played with figures, building complex scenarios in her mind. Give her some Lego and she’s in heaven. However, she struggles to hold a pencil and her handwriting is not good. She’s going into 2nd year of Primary School and still has no inclination to draw, unlike her sibling who is quite arty.

I was an early years teacher and in my time I’ve experienced loads of children like this. I really wouldn’t worry or try to get her interested if she isn’t.

But if you want you could try markmaking/craft that’s linked to the imaginative play. The order pad with the cafe, making labels for seeds in the garden, making a map to hunt for treasure.

I had a little boy in one class who only wanted to do dressing up/ imaginative play. One day he was charging around with the policeman’s helmet going “There’s been a burglar.!” Well, I said make a list of all the things that are missing. And he picked up paper and a pencil.

My only worry would be the very formal curriculum that she will encounter in schools now. But that’s a whole other debate.......

My DS never picked up a pencil before he started school, absolutely no interest in drawing. Did art at A level and acquired an A pass. DS's DD has been drawing recognisable shapes and figures since she was 18 months old. Everyone is individual in their development.

My son would only use black paint. He would cover pages and pages, all black! He grew up to be "normal" but his handwriting is awful!