THE EARLY USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF GRAPHIC FORMULAS - 2 CASE-STUDY REPORTS OF GRAPHIC FORMULA PRODUCTION BY 2- TO 3-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN

Graphic formulas are an important denotational device in the drawing r epertoires of adults and school-age children. They provide a stable ba sis for working out, modifying, and elaborating various aspects of gra phic-representation. As such, they might also serve as useful graphic devices for very young children who are just beginning to use drawing as a representational medium. However, there are very few studies whic h have examined graphic formula production in the earliest phases of d rawing. The case study reports presented here focus on the use and ela boration of graphic formulas by two 2- to 3-year-old children. They pr ovide strong evidence, first, that graphic formulas are indeed availab le to even very young children. Secondly, they provide insight into th e developmental processes by which the elaboration and reorganisation of graphic formulas occurs.