Skill
Makes Marks to Represent Ideas
Child makes marks and scribbles and uses them to represent objects or actions.
Ages 8–36 months
Why it matters
Making marks — first to explore, then to stand for something — is the beginning of writing. When a toddler scribbles and tells you what it "says," they are discovering that marks on paper can carry meaning, the core insight behind written language.
Builds toward this milestone
- makes marks and uses them to represent objects or actions. — Head Start ELOF
What mastery looks like
- Makes marks on paper with a large crayon or marker to explore writing tools.
- Makes scribbles to represent an object or action, even if an adult cannot recognize it.
- Talks with others about what their drawing or scribble shows.
How to observe it
- Given a large crayon and paper, does the child make marks?
- When the child scribbles, do they tell you what it is or what it shows?
Accessibility
- Offer chunky crayons, adapted grips, or finger paint for children developing fine-motor control.
- Let children mark in shaving cream, sand, or on a tablet if paper-and-crayon is hard to grasp.
Safety
- Use non-toxic, washable markers and crayons large enough not to be a choking hazard.
Activities
Evidence
- Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) — U.S. Office of Head Start · 2015 · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Early Atlas