Developmental Stages of Children's Drawings

Scribble

This stage is typical of children between 18 months and 3 years.

Scribbles are random. Children are exploring art materials in a playful way.
Scribbles move from uncontrolled to progressively more controlled.
This stage allows children to learn to hold a pencil as well as to determine whether they are left or right-handed.
While you may not see it, some scribbles are named. The child will point to an object found in the scribble.

Scribbling helps children with:

This stage is typical of children between the ages of 2 to 4.

Drawings become more complex, although they are usually unrealistic.
Children will tend to use their favorite colors, rather than represent objects in accurate colors.
Drawings of people are very simple with few features.
Objects in drawings float in space. They are not anchored.
“Tadpole Figure People” are drawn with a very large head on a small body with extended arms.
Interiors and exteriors are shown at the same time. (X-Ray Drawings)

Children continue to develop increased hand-eye coordination, fine and gross muscle development, and self-confidence during this stage.

Additionally, they are developing increased abilities in:

This stage is typical of children between 5 to 8.

Drawings of people become more proportional and more detailed.
Colors become more realistic and stereotypical (grass is green, the sky is blue).
Skyline and ground lines start to show.
Children have a schema about a way of drawing. For example, a house will be drawn the same way in many drawings.
Children will often create stories to go along with their drawings.

At this stage, children will be developing skills important for art, science and mathematics including:

This stage is typical of children between 9 to 11.

Drawings become far more detailed.
Much more spatial perspective is evident.
Children at this stage may become very frustrated if they are unable to create a realistic picture.
This is the time when children may express “I can’t draw.”