When a four-year-old scribbles a story, what is she likely believing?

When a four-year-old scribbles a story, the child likely believes that others can read what she has written. This stage of development is characterized by emerging literacy skills, where children often engage in symbolic play and may think of their scribbles as a form of communication. They experiment with writing as a means of storytelling, which reflects their understanding that symbols can convey meaning.

At this age, children are often starting to grasp that words can represent ideas, even if they don't yet have a complete grasp of letters or phonetics. Their scribbles may represent the sounds and structure of a story they want to share, indicating a belief that the mark-making process serves a function similar to actual writing. This belief showcases their budding understanding of literacy and the desire to communicate with others through the written word.