Glossary / Lexicon

Shape stage refers to a stage in drawing attained by age 3, in which children draw basic shapes such as circles, squares, triangles, crosses, X's and odd shapes.

They may also draw "odd shapes" that do not resemble any recognizable object or form.

The shape stage is considered a significant milestone in children's artistic development because it represents a transition from random scribbling to intentional drawing. Children at this stage are able to plan their drawings and use their motor skills to execute their ideas. They may also begin to assign meaning to their drawings, using shapes to represent objects and ideas.

Here are some examples of the types of drawings that children in the shape stage might create:

1. A child might draw a circle with two lines extending from it to represent a person.

2. A child might draw a square with lines inside to represent a house.

3. A child might draw a triangle with a line underneath to represent a mountain.

4. A child might draw a cross with circles on each end to represent a car.

5. A child might draw an odd shape and tell a story about it, assigning meaning to the shape through their imagination.

Overall, the shape stage is an important developmental milestone that represents children's growing ability to use their motor skills and imagination to create intentional drawings. It lays the foundation for more complex drawing skills that they will develop as they grow and mature.