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[quote=Anonymous]NP. Of course becoming "good" at drawing is eventually largely a matter of training. But drawing representationally in a very rudimentary way is a developmental milestone that is mostly not "taught" (general unstructured fine motor practice, and observation and opportunity to draw, notwithstanding).

For example, the (aptly-named?) Goodenough-Harris Draw-a-Person Test: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draw-a-Person_test

Here's how it works, below. Basically a kid around 5 would be expected to score at least about 8 points. That might mean a head, legs, arms, trunk, eyes, nose, mouth and hair. They could all be lines and circles and dots. Aimless scribbling would be concerning, as would one formless blob. I'm not sure if this is what the OP's kid would produce, but if so, that would merit further evaluation.

I am almost comically unwilling to show my kid "how to draw" literally anything. I think if one thinks "a sun looks like a circle with lines coming from it" or "a house looks like a square with a triangle on top"... well, those are culturally encoded symbolic ideas, not "the way to draw X," and not actually representational. So if that's all this is about, then likely no worries. Kids don't need to be taught how to draw stick figures or whatever. But if the OP's kid can't reproduce a person that is more than aimless scribbles, that might be an issue.

Other possible issues could (could!) include fine motor skills issues (inherent or due to lack of practice) or anxiety about "getting it right."

Or it could be nothing.

But a 5-year-old shouldn't be and/or shouldn't need to be taught how to draw, per se.

----

DIRECTIONS:  “I want you to make a picture of a person.  Make the very best picture that you can.  Take your time and work very carefully.  Try very hard and see what a good picture you can make.”

TIME: 			No time limit.  Usually 10 minutes will suffice with young children.  
This test is to be used primarily as a screening device.  The drawings of bright children more than 10 years old or those who have had drawing lessons will result in an invalid evaluation of the child’s intellectual potential.  
SCORING
CLASS A		Preliminary Stage in which the drawing cannot be recognized as a human figure:
1.	Aimless uncontrolled scribbling – score 0.  
2.	Lines somewhat controlled – approaches crude geometrical form – score 1.
CLASS B	All drawings that can be recognized as attempts to represent the human figure.  Each point is scored plus or minus.  One credit for each point scored plus and no half credits given.

GROSS DETAIL		1.  Head present
2.   Legs present.
3.	Arms present
4.	Trunk present
5.	Length of trunk greater than breadth.
6.	Shoulders are indicated (abrupt broadening of trunk below neck)

ATTACHMENTS	1.   Both arms and legs attached to trunk.
2.	Arms and legs attached to trunk at correct points.
3.	Neck present.
4.	Outline of neck continuous with that of head, trunk, or both.

HEAD DETAIL		1.   Eyes present (one or two)
2.	Nose present
3.	Mouth present
4.	Nose and mouth in two dimensions, two lips shown.
5.	Nostril shown
6.	Hair shown
7.	Hair on more than circumference of head and non-transparent – better than a scribble.

CLOTHING		1.    Clothing present (any clear representation of clothing)
2.	Two articles of clothing non transparent (ex. Hat, trousers)
3.	Entire drawing free from transparencies – sleeves and trousers must be shown.
4.	Four articles of clothing definitely indicated.  *should include 4 – hat, shoes, coat, shirt, necktie, belt, trousers*
5.	Costume complete with incongruities *business suit, soldier’s costume and hat, sleeves trousers and shoes must be shown*

HAND DETAIL		1.    Fingers present (any indication)
2.	Correct number of fingers shown
3.	Fingers in two dimensions – length greater than breadth, angle subtended not greater than 180 degrees
4.	Opposition of thumb clearly defined
5.	Hand shown distinct from fingers and arm

JOINTS			1.  Arm joint shown – elbow, shoulder, or both
2.	leg joint shown – knee, hip, or both

PROPORTION		1.  Head not more than ½ or less than 1/10 of trunk 
2.	Arms equal to trunk but not reaching knee
3.	Legs not less than trunk not more than twice trunk size
4.	Feet in 2 dimensions – not more than 1/3 or less than 1/10 of leg
5.	Both arms and lens in two dimensions

MOTOR COORDINATION 
1.	Lines firm without marked tendency to cross, gap, or overlap.
2.	All lines firm with correct joining.
3.	Outline of head without obvious irregularities.  Develop beyond first crude circle.  Conscious control apparent.  
4.	Trunk outline.  Score same as #3.
5.	Arms and legs without irregularities.  2 dimensions and no tendency to narrow at point of junction with trunk.
6.	Features symmetrical (more likely to credit in profile drawings)

FINE HEAD DETAIL	1.  Ears present (2 in full face, 1 in profile)
2.	Ears present in correct position and proportion.
3.	Eye details – brow or lashes shown.
4.	Eye detail – pupil shown.
5.	Eye detail – proportion.  Length greater than width.
6.	Eye detail – glance – only plus in profile.
7.	Chin and forehead shown.

PROFILE		1.  Projection of chin shown – usually + in profile.
2.	heel clearly shown
3.	Body profile – head, trunk, and feet without error. 
4.	Figure shown in true profile without error or transparency.

TABLE OF MENTAL AGE EQUIVALENTS OF SCORES

1	3-3	14	6-6	27	9-9	40	13-0
2	3-6	15	6-9	28	10-0	41	13-3
3	3-9	16	7-0	29	10-3	42	13-6
4	4-0	17	7-3	30	10-6	43	13-9
5	4-3	18	7-6	31	10-9	44	14-0
6	4-6	19	7-9	32	11-0	45	14-3
7	4-9	20	8-0	33	11-3	46	14-6
8	5-	21	8-3	34	11-6	47	14-9
9	5-3	22	8-6	35	11-9	48	15-0
10	5-6	23	8-9	36	12-0	49	15-3
11	5-9	24	9-0	37	12-3	50	15-6
12	6-0	25	9-3	38	12-6	51	15-9
13	6-3	26	9-6	39	12-9		
[/quote]

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