Early marks are often a purely physical activity focused on kinesthetic movement rather than representation. Children enjoy the act of creating marks and eventually begin to name their scribbles after they are finished.

Figures become more detailed and structured. Children develop a "schema" or set way of drawing people, often including hair, fingers, clothing, and a separate torso. At this stage, figures are usually anchored to a ground line or standing on a baseline.

The first purposeful representations of humans appear, often as the famous "tadpole" or "amoeba" people —a large circle for the head with two lines for legs attached directly to it.

Proportions become more accurate, and children begin to include more specific details that reflect social and emotional nuances.