The pre-schematic stage occurs between the ages of 4 and 7. Children in the pre-schematic stage begin to use geometric forms in their drawings. They employ a random or emotional use of color that does not correlate with real objects. People are often drawn with their arms and legs extending from the head, and they are usually shown face-forward and smiling. Children place objects and details according to emotional significance and delete those that they consider unimportant.

Children between the age of 6 and 9 are in the schematic stage of artistic development. The child uses a technique called “x-ray drawing” where he draws things that are not actually visible. For example, a car will be shown with all four wheels visible, even if two wheels are only visible in real life. The child also begins to use perspective, showing objects smaller if they are in the distance and larger up close. Children at this age frequently incorporate more details such as noses, hands and fingers into their artwork.

The dawning realism stage occurs between ages 9 and 12. A child becomes critical of his own artwork at this age because he realizes that the images he is attempting to convey do not look like the objects they are intended to represent, states the University of Minnesota Duluth website. Images of people are usually stiff and poised, and although objects are portrayed with a sense of perspective, they lose the spontaneity of the pictures created in the earlier stage.