FM.F.89 IMITATES A CIRCLE

Mastering the skill of drawing a circle represents a big step forward in your child’s control of his crayon. He must think ahead about where he is going and stop at a precise point. His movement must be smooth rather than jerky. Quite a challenge!

Note that he is required only to draw a circle in imitation at this stage.

How to Assess

Materials: Thick crayons and paper.

Method: Say ‘I’m going to draw a circle’. Do so. Give the crayon to your child, saying ‘You draw a circle’. Give 3 tries, demonstrating each time.

Score plus if your child draws an enclosed circular shape with the ends overlapping no more than 2 cm in 2 out of the 3 tries.

How to Teach

Work through the following steps, and begin teaching at the point where your child experiences difficulty.

  1. Stops when you say ‘Stop’, when making a circular movement. Let your child make a couple of round-and-round movements, and then say ‘Stop’. If he does not stop, lift his hand upward until he gets the idea. Continue until he stops without your help before moving on to step 2.
  2. Imitates a circle with a dot cue, plus verbal reminders. Make a large dot on your paper. A stamp is helpful here. Say: ‘I’m going to draw a circle. I put the crayon on the dot. I go round … back to the dot … STOP on the dot.’ Help your child to do the same, repeating the directions. As your child gets the idea, gradually reduce your physical help until he can draw his circle without it. He should not continue for more than 2 cm beyond the dot.
  3. Imitates a circle with a dot cue, no verbal reminders. Give a verbal reminder for the first circle only in each session, or following errors. Then stop the reminders altogether. Simply give your demonstrations and say ‘You draw a circle’.
  4. Imitates a circle as in the main objective. Now you can phase out your dot cues. Make your dots smaller and fainter, until they disappear altogether, Continue to give a demonstration every time. When your child can draw a circle with only your demonstration to help him, he has mastered the skill,

Playtime and Round-the-house Activities

Talk about circles whenever they occur. Practise making circles with a range of materials, including thick wool and strips of dough. Draw simple faces inside your child’s circles – this is very reinforcing, so save it for good circles! You could also try drawing circles around pictures.

Remembering and Extending

This skill is directly extended by FM.F.90.