Children begin to outline forms within the scribbles. Shapes appear to be random initially but gradually become familiar circles and squares. By the end of this stage, children begin a drawing with a plan in mind and, if asked, will tell a story about a particular drawing. Children draw pictures that tell a simple story. We expect to see people with all their body parts in this stage, although the bodies may be distorted.
Children can draw with a fair degree of realism that continues to improve with practice.
During this time many children stop drawing altogether. Understanding these stages is important when looking for signs of emotional trouble. The following are some common problems that can be detected at each stage. Older children who revert back to scribbling, even though they have greater artistic ability, may be indicating they have more anxiety and stress than they can handle. Parents should be aware of other signs of regression.