Developmental Stages of Drawing

2-2½ years: controlled scribbling. The child begins to develop some control of his fine motor abilities, and the scribbles gain some direction and control. After some experience with controlled scribbling, a child may name his picture a "motorcycle" or a "big wheel" although there appears to be no resemblance. This is an intellectual accomplishment for the child, an indication that he is taking his first step toward being able to do representation.

2½ -3 years: the face. The next major development is for the circle to become a face.

3½ -4 years: arms and legs. The circle "person" develops stick arms and legs, which protrude from the circle, or the head; there is no body yet.

4 years: the body. The human figure begins to acquire a body. Gradually, more and more body parts are added (hands, feet, hair, ears, etc.).

5 years: the floating house. First "house" drawings usually resemble a face, with windows placed like eyes and door like a mouth. These first houses are usually somewhere in the middle of the paper and seem to be floating in space.

5½ -6 years: the house on a bottom line. The bottom of the paper is used as a baseline and the house rests on it.

5½ -6 years: a baseline supports the house. A base line appears within the drawing and the house rests on it.

6-7 years: two-dimensional drawing. The baseline begins to take on the quality of a horizon, which indicates the child's awareness of two-dimensional space.