Crayon exploration time
1–2 yearsSuccess MindsetMaterials: Crayons, paper
Give your child a few crayons and paper and let them scribble freely. Sit with them and draw your own simple marks. Talk about what you're both doing: 'You're making big circles' or 'I'm trying to draw a line.' Avoid praising the picture itself. Instead, notice their process: 'You're using the red crayon now' or 'You're pressing hard.' This keeps focus on exploration and effort, not creating something 'good.'
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How to Do This Activity
Give your child a few crayons and paper and let them scribble freely. Sit with them and draw your own simple marks. Talk about what you're both doing: 'You're making big circles' or 'I'm trying to draw a line.' Avoid praising the picture itself. Instead, notice their process: 'You're using the red crayon now' or 'You're pressing hard.' This keeps focus on exploration and effort, not creating something 'good.'
Why It Works
Focusing on process rather than product builds intrinsic motivation and growth mindset. Growth mindset interventions significantly promote achievement by shifting focus from fixed ability to malleable skills developed through effort (Yeager et al., 2019). When you praise your child's exploration and experimentation with crayons rather than the pictures they create, you reinforce that the joy and learning come from the doing, not the outcome.
Tips for Parents
Let them explore without directing what to draw. Free exploration builds confidence.
Comment on actions and choices: 'You chose the blue one' instead of judging the result.
Join them at their level. Your participation shows that creating and exploring matter more than the final product.
Materials Needed
Crayons, paper
Learning Methods
Hands-On ExplorationImitation and ModelingMontessori Practical Life Activities
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