Beyond Stick Figures: The Next Step for Young Artists
Stuck on stick figures? Here's how to help kids move beyond them, using shapes, cartoon bodies and grid drawing to draw whole people.
To help kids move beyond stick figures, teach them to build bodies from shapes: an oval for the body, tubes for arms and legs, circles for hands. Grid drawing is another great bridge, because it shows how whole cartoon people are put together.
Stick figures are a normal stage. But many kids want to draw people that look more real. A few simple tricks help.
From sticks to shapes
1. Draw a stick figure lightly.
2. Draw an oval around the body line.
3. Draw tubes around arms and legs.
4. Add circles for hands and ovals for feet.
5. Erase the sticks.
Add clothes and details
- Shirts and pants follow body shapes.
- Hair adds personality.
- Faces add expression.
Grid drawing for whole people
Draw by Grid: Cartoon People lets kids draw whole cartoon people square by square. Copying complete people shows kids how bodies, clothes and poses fit together, which helps their own drawings grow.
Practice ideas
- Draw family members using shapes.
- Action poses. Running, jumping, dancing.
- Character design. Invent a person with a unique outfit.
Keep stick figures for comics
Stick figures are still great for quick comics. Kids do not have to give them up completely. See teaching kids to draw faces.
Questions parents ask
How do I teach my child to draw people instead of stick figures?
Start with a stick figure, then build shapes around it: an oval body, tube arms and legs, circle hands.
What age do kids stop drawing stick figures?
It varies. Many children start adding body shapes between 5 and 8.
Is grid drawing good for learning to draw people?
Yes. Copying whole cartoon people square by square shows how bodies and clothes fit together.
More in ages and stages, or browse all 217 posts on the blog.
Keep reading
- Too Old for Cartoons? Why Older Kids Still Love ThemThink your older kid is too old for cartoons? Think again. Cartoon drawing builds real skills and many tweens and teens love weird, edgy characters.
- Why Toddler Scribbling Matters More Than You ThinkToddler scribbles matter more than you think. Scribbling builds hand strength, coordination and early communication. Here's how to support it.
- The Stages of Children's Drawing, From Scribbles OnChildren's drawings follow predictable stages, from scribbles to shapes to detailed scenes. A parent's guide to each stage and how to support it.
- Doodling Is Not Wasting Time: Why Doodles Help KidsDoodling isn't wasting time. Research suggests doodling can help some people stay focused and remember more. Here's why kids' doodles matter.
