About Us
We want all children to be school ready and life ready too!
We think drawing in the early years, particularly drawing together with a parent or in groups, has an important role to play in making this happen.
But what’s so special about drawing for children, particularly drawing together or in groups?
Drawing is a rich educational and expressive activity for children.
Drawing, especially drawing together with a parent or in groups, builds children’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills.
In particular:
- Drawing is a tool for the development of verbal language skills in children. When children draw, they often talk.
- Drawing can help a child to express their ideas and identity both in the drawing itself and in conversation about it with others.
- Drawing is play with mark making tools and can be a stimulus for imaginative and social play experiences. For example, a hat or mask can be decorated and used in role play.
- Drawing is a precursor to writing (a series of drawing patterns). Drawing helps children to develop the fine motor skills they need to write as well as visual skills and memory skills, which are also used for handwriting.
- When done with an engaged adult, drawing also presents a wonderful opportunity to learn about the world (including colours, shapes, emotions).
Inspiring parents and children to draw together
We aim to provide parents with the confidence, knowledge and skills to draw together with their children, as a way to lift children’s learning and development at home, particularly communication, language and social skills.
We aim to build the confidence, knowledge and skills of early years professionals to facilitate drawing in groups of children to lift children’s learning and development, particularly communication, language and social skills.
Inspiring early years professionals to facilitate drawing in groups
company History
2019
Started in Melbourne
Squiggle Kids was started in Melbourne in 2019 by a paediatric occupational therapist and parent team to raise community awareness about the importance of drawing with children in the early years.
Our first creative sessions for families and information sessions for adults were run in local neighbourhood houses.
2020
Created Drawing Resources
We began creating drawing resources during the Melbourne COVID lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.
2021
Program on the SRF
Our Drawing to Learn and Learning to Draw program (DLLD) became an approved program on the School Readiness Funding (SRF) menu of evidence-informed programs and supports for Victorian kindergartens in 2021.
Squiggle Kids programs and resources are created by professionals and parents for professionals and parents.
Squiggle Kids team
Debbie is a paediatric occupational therapist and parent. Drawing has been a key activity in Debbie’s clinical work with children and a favourite activity for Debbie in her childhood and her family life too. Having observed parents with low levels of confidence, knowledge and skills in drawing with their children, Debbie is committed to putting drawing, particularly drawing in groups, back on the agenda for children in the early years!
Lauren is a children’s author and parent who came to drawing from a desire to help her children get ready for school. As a busy working mum acutely aware of the information overload and general overwhelm many modern parents feel, Lauren is committed to finding innovative and effective ways to engage with parents about drawing.
Jenni has worked for many years in early intervention and preschool learning and holds a number of teaching and specialist qualifications. Drawing has always been a key focus in Jenni’s work, as a tool for children to express themselves and as a joyful way for children to extend their creativity and develop their language and fine motor skills.
Cass is a mum of 2. One of Cass’ daughters who has dyslexia, found comfort in drawing and creating from a young age. Cass has worked in a variety of creative roles for different organisations. Creating is Cass’ happy place too.
Lou has a passion for education. Lou strives to create activities for adults and young learners that promote development in a positive and fun environment, including through play and drawing.
Emily has a passion for kids, health and helping people and loves cooking and crafting. While usually working on various admin tasks at Squiggle Kids, Emily also takes every opportunity she can to visit kinders with the Squiggle Kids team to sing, dance, draw and play!
Angelie is a second-year Occupational Therapy student at Australian Catholic University who loves playing the violin and badminton. She has a passion for children’s development and enjoys the fun, creative learning style of Squiggle Kids, which matches her approach to helping kids grow.
What do they say about us?