Drawing means the expression of excellence for human beings which exists from ancient times. And it is from an early age. Kids being very small create shapes with there own thinking. Like any other activity, there are stages of children’s drawing that mark growth and development in the child.
This development occurs in stages of children’s drawing, in two aspects. First, the one has to acquire knowledge. As the child recognizes objects, he memorizes them and learns their form. Thus, he is able to transfer this knowledge to paper. Or the walls, in the worst case.
Second, the development of fine motor skills is fundamental. That means the child requires the use of the small muscles of the hands and forearms. These are activities that require greater precision and refinement. The drawing, of course, is one of them.
Characteristics of the stages of children’s drawing
This learning occurs gradually. Next, we will review the stages that a child can go through until they fully develop their artistic abilities as a draftsman.
1.- Scribbling stage
It occurs approximately from 2 years. At first, when the baby does not pay attention to what he does, it is called uncontrolled scribbling. In this case, he does not control his movements and does not try to represent anything.
Later, at around 3 years of age, you will arrive at controlled scribbling. Although he will continue to do forms, his coordination will begin to improve and he will have a little more pulse to direct the pencil.
They usually attribute names to these forms, even if they do not resemble “a dog” or “a house” at all. This is why it is also called “fortuitous realism”
As the last phase of this stage, the scribbling with the name appears. Here, the child already aims to draw a certain situation or object. That is why it is called “frustrated realism”.
Although this is not identified in what is reflected in the sheet, it already elaborates forms according to what it intends to draw.
Related article: 6 hobbies for children to eliminate boredom.
2.- Pre-schematic stage
It occurs in children between 4 and 7 years of age. At this time, the drawings begin to take more recognizable forms. Generally, the child tries to draw human forms to represent himself or his family doing some activity.
Something remarkable about this stage is how drawings cease to be isolated things to have a certain organization. A horizontal line delimits the ground, the basis of everything else, and the sun and clouds appear above, in the sky.
In addition, the colors appear. They will have some relation to reality, although this depends more on the preferences of each one.
“In the pre-schematic stage, after 4 years, the drawings begin to take more recognizable forms”
3.- Stage of realism
As the name implies, the purpose here is to be as faithful as possible to reality. It occurs, generally, between 8 and 12 years of age. It incorporates aspects such as the superposition, the third dimension and the details of each object.
There are no longer two-dimensional productions, with the feet, ears, and nose in profile as before. Neither transparent walls or bags are drawn that allows seeing inside.
As the child grows, his precision to coordinate movements improves, so does his ability to draw.
Importance of children’s drawing
During all these stages of children’s drawing, it is important that children have what it takes to develop this skill. Here are some tips to enhance this process:
- Suitable and available elements
First, it is useful to leave paper and pencils within reach, so they can use them when they feel like it. If they are accompanied, in addition, you could offer crayons and watercolors to amplify the creative possibilities.
- Patience, tolerance and support
Also, it is also essential that you support and incentives to improve. Never judge or criticize their work, remember that they do the best they can. And, if it is not like that, it is also positive that they take it as a form of recreation.
- Take interest in their development
The stages of children’s drawings are the faithful reflection of the evolution and maturation of the child in terms of their abilities. In addition, they also reflect their feelings. Through his drawings, the child expresses what he likes, what interests him, what he perceives and what he wants.
Taking into account all the comments, it is time for you to give your child the materials he needs to sit down and create. If you are already doing it, pay attention and try to identify at what stage they are. Why not, you can also practice with it!