Stages-of-Artistic Developmental a look at child art

Art Education

Teaching children how to use graphic devices and formulas to make their pictures will inhibit children from using their art for

Self-Expression.

Consequently, they have warned that children should be discouraged from copying pictures and drawings (see, for example, Lowenfeld, 1947). Similarly, Arnheim (1956) claimed that by copying pictures made by others, children do not learn how to create order in their drawings. And according to Kellogg (1970), a Child should not be encouraged to copy, because a copied figure may quickly become a stereotyped formula and result in a loss of interest in drawing.

– Glyn V. Thomas and Angele M. J. Silk,
An Introduction to the Psychology of Children’s Drawings

Researchers generally agree that children go through multiple developmental stages in their ability to express themselves through their drawings, paintings, and another visual language. If we know what is happening at these stages, we can better understand what and how children are communicating.

Our review and understanding of the language of painting can give us valuable information to see the secret of a child’s world and how they are telling us visually what they cannot tell us verbally.

1. Stage One (11 – 18 months)

Scribbling

As the child starts walking and controlling their balance, this stage is mostly about the joy of movement, and their activities are all about playing. They love to “make a mess.”

Now is when the child begins to draw. At this stage, they can create marks and lines only (scribbles), without angles or apparent reason. They draw continual lines without lifting their hands from the paper.

2. Stage Two (18 months – 2 years)

Pre-symbolism

At this stage, the child’s drawing usually starts from the middle of the work area with circles and lines that take off from the center. Children start to understand the use of their hands, their cause and effect, and what the results will be. They can lift their hands to start new lines as their cognitive development progresses.

3. Stage Three (2 - 3 years)

Symbolism

Throughout the world, between two and three years old, children start to draw a form that represents the human body. At the center is a circle with a few lines attached. The child has started to recognize the body but is not yet able to differentiate the various limbs.

At this stage, the child’s eyes follow their hands and give direction. They start understanding shapes. Their lines start having meaning, and they can start explaining those meanings. Cognitively, they are making decisions. At about 2 ½ years, they start recognizing the differences between horizontal and vertical and can distinguish multiple points in their works.

4. Stage Four (3 – 4 years)

At Stage Four, children start to recognize the similarity of the lines they create to the objects that they are drawing. They have learned to name their objects. In their first human drawings, their humans look like “tadpoles.” Now they start to recognize more body part details, like hands and feet. As in Stage Three, these aspects of Stage Four are not influenced by the culture surrounding the child. This development seems to cross all such “boundaries.”

5. Stage Five (4 - 5 years)

We can recognize the child’s drawings, like trees, home, mommy, etc. These can occur all in one drawing. We can also recognize their personality from these drawings.

6. Stage Six (5 - 6 years)

Schematic

Children at this stage have clearly assigned shapes to the objects that they are attempting to depict. They often have developed a schema for creating drawings and have a defined order in the development of their drawings. Drawings at this stage have a clear separation between the sky and the ground. Often the sky is a strip of blue at the top of the paper, while the ground is a strip of green at the bottom. Objects of importance are often drawn larger than objects of lesser importance.

7. Stage Seven (7 - 9 years)

Dawning Realism

At this stage in artistic development, children are beginning to become more critical of their work. It has become evident that a structured order to draw objects is no longer sufficient. While a schema is still used to create drawings, it is more complex than the schema used in earlier stages. Overlapping can be seen and a sense of spatial relationships is more evident.

8. Stage Eight (10 - 13 years)

Naturalistic

The use of value and light is now apparent in drawings. Children at this stage of artistic development are very critical of their success. Success is determined by the level of realism achieved in the drawing. Frustration is a common occurrence. It is exceptionally important to encourage students at this stage.

9. The Decision Stage (13-16 years old)

Children at this stage will decide to continue drawing or view it as an activity without merit. Because of the level of self-criticism inherent at this stage, many children, (now young adults) view drawing as a skill that they do not possess. Others, however, decide to continue working on their drawing skills and continue to develop. I think that it is important to encourage students to continue drawing despite their level of skill. Any skill level can be attained with practice. This stage of artistic development is perhaps the most critical to the development of an artist.

Museum of Contemporary Visual Art & Collections of Child Art.

Discover the power of creativity at the Museum of Contemporary Visual Art! Our collections of child art showcase the vibrant imaginations of young artists, offering fresh perspectives that inspire visitors of all ages. Visit us today to experience art through the eyes of both established and emerging artists!