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You might what to have him evaluated for LD's though 4 is early to tell. Two
of my cousins and my sister resisted attempts to get them to read - all are
dyslectic and ADHD. I announced in 1st grade that I would never learn to
spell, by third, I was pitching fits anytime I had to put pencil to paper.
At the same time, I loved to read and announced I was going to be an author.
I would also "turn off my senses". I have a cross over (my third grade
teacher forced me to "choose" my left hand until then I switched back and
forth), am dysgraphic (SP), and ADD. We were all diagnosed in University -
we are all graduates two teachers a social worker, I have no idea what my
oldest cousin's degree is in. To this day, I only write using a computer (my
spelling improves 90% by eliminating the physical act of writing). Being
able to "turn off" my hearing etc. is great for concentration, but can annoy
family and coworkers. My sister and cousins really got the short end of the
stick, they will never enjoy reading - they think I am nuts. I have a
younger cousin (maternal) who was diagnosed early in kindergarten. Her
parents have been able to get her help (they are both teachers), but they
also demand that she not used the diagnoses as an excuse. She gets into more
trouble if she blames bad behavior on her ADHD. She has to find a way to
master the same material as her classmates. They did move her into the
English program (she was in a French program they are in Canada). They felt
doing all her subjects in a second language was too much to deal with on top
of the LD and other physical problems. She still takes French language, but
does her math, science, and social studies in English.

Kimberly Herbert (kimberly)
CAM Administrator
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts and Children's Art Museum

-----Original Message-----
From: Alison Bell [alison.b]
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 9:16 PM
To: ArtsEdNet Talk
Subject: 4-year-old resistance to making marks on paper

Hi there
I am a parent of a 4-year-old who is positively hostile to making marks
on paper. His JK teacher said something about small motor control, but
you should see him work with Lego ...
I'm concerned because I think it might be that he overheard and
internalized a casual remark I made within his hearing a couple of years
ago (yes, when he was that young) - that I hated drawing and painting
even as a very young kid. However, I did not resist all attempts at
making marks on paper. I just wasn't thrilled with it. I do remember
occasional pleasure, though, at creating a world there that didn't
exist.

My son, though, will not colour, will not draw, will not make marks that
come off the end of an instrument on to paper or any other medium. He
knows that people are trying to encourage him so he uses it ("mommy, I
want to paint" when I'm trying to wash the dishes). He likes scissors
and glue ... but won't draw.

I think he just doesn't like the result ("See, I don't know how - you do
it mommy" ... "I can't" ... "It's hard for me") and it's profoundly
frustrating to see him draw a circle, and he knows he's done it, and
then watch him do something to sabotage it, as if he /must not/ do it.

Mostly, I've just let it go because I don't want to push him - he's
already been pushed by me and others and it increases his resistance.

Frankly, it doesn't matter to me deeply if he doesn't want to do "art" -
he is very clearly more oriented to sounds and words - But I'm
concerned that he won't want to write either. He resists all attempts to
get him to hold an instrument less awkwardly ...

Well, you get the idea.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Alison

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