1. Stages of Art Development
Early Childhood Education
Stages of Art Development

2. Bellwork
Based on this picture, how old you think the child is who drew it? Why?
Share your response with your partner. Be prepared to share with the class.
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3. Objectives Define terminology
Describe the importance of knowing stages of art.
Identify the stages of art development.
List the characteristics of developmentally appropriate art activities.
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4. Terminology
Scribbling: earliest drawings of young children that are simple and random markings made for the pleasure of drawing scribbles.
Basic Forms: begin to draw simple lines and shapes such as circles, continue to draw for pleasure.
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5. Terminology, Cont.
Pictorial: children use the shapes from stage 2 to draw symbolic representations of real people and things such as houses or trees, drawings include new meanings and understanding.
Developmentally Appropriate: Activities that are appropriate to children’s age and developmental status, attuned to them as unique individuals, and responsive to the social and cultural contexts in which they live.
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6. Stages of Art Development
Why is it Important to know the stages of art development?
Knowing these stages helps early childhood teachers/caregivers plan developmentally appropriate activities or activities that reflect the children’s skill level.
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7. Stage One: Scribbling Age: 15 months to 3 years Characteristics:
Random marks, dots, and lines
Zigzags, whirls, and circles
Children do not connect marks on paper with their movements
Enjoy physical sensation of moving a marking tool across page
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8. Scribbling Example
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9. Stage Two: Basic Forms Age: 3-4 years Characteristics:
Draw basic forms such as ovals, rectangles, and circles
More control over movements
Begin to see connection between movements and marks they make
Begin to name drawings
Continue to draw for pleasure
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10. Basic Forms Example
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11. Stage Three: Pictorial
Age: 4-6 years
Characteristics:
Drawing symbolic representation
Combines shapes or represent objects or people
Drawings are large and randomly placed
Begins with crude human figures sometimes called “tadpole figures” (arms and legs stemming from head)
Later adding animals, trees, houses, and cars to artwork
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12. Pictorial Example
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13. What Stage? 1. 2.
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14. What Stage? 3. 4.
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15. Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)
Activities are developmentally appropriate when:
appropriate to children’s age and developmental stage
attuned to them as unique individuals
responsive to the social and cultural contexts in which they live.
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16. Developmentally Appropriate Art Activities
Developmentally art activities:
Open-ended—focus on the process
Child-led and initiated
Provide new and interesting materials
Lots of time for children to explore and experiment
Display work at child’s eye level
Let children come and go from their art at will
Remember that it’s the children’s art, not yours
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17. Closure
Write on paper or slates your answers to the following questions:
What- What have I learned about the stages of art development?
So What - Why is it important to provide developmentally appropriate art activities?
Now What - What can I do with what I have learned?
Be prepared to share with the class.
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