Survey of drawing and art activities of preschoolers: Attitudes and experiences of parents

Drawing is an especially important activity for preschool children who do not yet possess verbal skills to express their feelings. The various aspects of children drawing can be widely implemented as diagnostic and therapeutic measures in home environment and many different settings, especially pediatric, developmental, and dental services, starting school, classroom observations. Objective of the study was to review the aspects of drawing in preschoolers and to investigate the attitudes of their parents considering their own artistic experiences and visual arts education. A pilot survey was conducted using a 22-item questionnaire designed for this specific purpose. Preschooler parents were interviewed in 6 public kindergartens in Lithuania. The questionnaire consisted of general questions about the parents and children as well as specific questions regarding the various aspects of drawing materials, time, type of visual art activities, parent attitudes and their own experiences and engagement in visual arts. The survey has determined that the majority of children draw, model, and color books, and that the parents have noted the various beneficial aspects of said activities. Girls participated in visual art activities at home significantly more than boys. Parents who participated in specialized art activities during childhood had children who were engaged in art activities (both drawing and modeling) significantly more and who were less engaged in book coloring at home. The current data can be used for longitudinal and cross-cultural comparisons