How Is Emergent Writing Based on Drawing? Analyses of Children's Products and Their Sorting by Children and Mothers.

Compared 28- to 53-month-olds' writing and drawing. Scores on a writing scale composed of graphic, "writing-like," and symbolic schemes improved with age. Recognition of drawings as drawings preceded recognition of writings as writings. Writing and drawing scores were substantially correlated, even with age partialed out, suggesting that when children start drawing objects referentially, they write by drawing "print," and that progress in object drawing involves progress in drawing print. (Author/KB)