Drawing People and Faces Together

Paper

Crayons or markers

Set out paper and crayons or markers for both of you. Sit side by side so your child can see your paper.

Start by drawing a big circle for a head on your paper. Invite your child to draw a circle on theirs. It does not need to be round.

Add two eyes inside the circle. Talk about placement — "Eyes go about here, in the middle." Your child adds eyes to their drawing however they like.

Add a nose and mouth, one at a time. Pause between each feature so your child can follow along at their pace.

Draw a body below the head. A simple rectangle, two stick arms, and two stick legs is a great start. Your child's version will look different, and that is the point.

Let your child add their own details — hair, clothes, glasses, shoes, a hat, a pet beside the person.

Ask: "Who is this person? Tell me about them." Write the name or story your child shares right on the picture.

Draw alongside your child, not for them. Your drawing is a reference, not a template to copy exactly.

Children at this age typically draw "tadpole people" — a circle with legs coming directly out of the head. This is completely normal and developmentally on track.

Do not correct proportions. If the arms come out of the head or the feet are as big as the body, that is where your child's understanding of body representation currently is.

Celebrate details your child adds on their own. "You gave her a necklace! I love that she has curly hair!"

Date every drawing. Looking back at the progression of people-drawing over months and years is one of the most rewarding things to track.