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Original poster

5 year old drawings

39 replies

BeNattyAzure88 · 26/06/2025 09:09

Hello, my son has Autism, he has just turned 5 and only put pen to paper for the first time 6 months ago! To me, as i'm not used to seeing him draw; are pretty good drawings. But It dawned on me that I don't really know how well most 5 year olds draw, do I have rose-tinted mum-goggles on and they're actually pretty average, bearing in mind he had never held a pen before January! These are all drawn from imagination.
If you know lots of 5 year olds, would this rank as pretty good or somewhere more in the middle? It doesn't matter to me either way, I'm just curious!

5 year old drawings
5 year old drawings
5 year old drawings
5 year old drawings
5 year old drawings
OP posts:
Caspianberg · 26/06/2025 09:11

They are really good

My 5 year old still scribbles half the time and if not it’s drawn but basic lines of a rocket but you have to still ask what it is

Mine doesn’t sit still long enough to draw that much detail

Thecomfortador · 26/06/2025 09:12

I think they're pretty good. Lots of imagination there! My two probably wouldn't do better than that at 7&9.

Imperfectpolly · 26/06/2025 09:22

I agree with PP - you can tell what everything is and the colouring is very neat.

Eenameenadeeka · 26/06/2025 09:45

They are lovely pictures, very creative and impressive imagination

CeliaInside · 26/06/2025 10:08

They are lovely, very imaginative and detailed but I wouldn’t say they were above average for a five year.

BarnacleBeasley · 26/06/2025 10:47

I think they are pretty good, especially as he started late. There's lots of detail in the figures - all four limbs, facial features, belly button! So he's either skipped the hilarious head-on-legs stage or got through it quite quickly. There's some nice detail on the flowers too.

My four year old has been somewhat similar in that he couldn't really hold his pencil properly so he didn't like drawing and didn't do it, and then a few months ago something suddenly clicked and he went overnight from just scribbles to actual detailed figures. His colouring is surprisingly neat too. I think he had all the ideas in his head, and your DS probably did too, so as soon as they discovered the relevant fine motor skills, they've suddenly caught up.

DontTouchRoach · 26/06/2025 11:16

I think they’re better than the average five-year-old’s drawings, especially if he only started using a pen/pencil six months ago! He clearly puts a lot of care into details - if these are drawn from imagination, he’s obviously got a really strong ability to a) remember things/imaged he’s seen in a lot of detail and b) commit those details to paper. He also uses colour choices really well - the one of the plants/cacti is really well thought out in that regard. And his colouring is so neat.

ShesTheAlbatross · 26/06/2025 11:19

I don’t know what average is because I only see my DD’s drawings. But those are miles better than hers. She may have inherited my crap drawing though, or she may be average and your son very good.

EscapeTheCastle · 26/06/2025 11:20

I think the drawings are excellent. So much lively use of colour. Also the creatures are adorable!

normalisnotme · 26/06/2025 11:22

Looks lovely better than what i can do i only can draw stick men.
My eldest sister was like this at a very young age so detailed and good for her age loved drawing etc.
She became an artist she had excellent skills by the time she was 15.
Now in her 40s her drawings and paintings are a masterpiece.
Im still drawing bubble cats and stick men.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 26/06/2025 11:49

To me those would seem well above average for a 5 year old.

Caramelty · 26/06/2025 11:53

They are lovely! Very good for a 5 yo I agree

menopausalfart · 26/06/2025 12:22

You have an artist on your hands.

TY78910 · 26/06/2025 12:27

That’s pretty level with my NT 5yo. What’s impressive is that this came through in 6 months! I watched my DCs drawings evolve with time from squiggles, to basic stick people to something like this.

Kuretake · 26/06/2025 12:29

I think they're fantastic

painauchoc512 · 26/06/2025 13:15

My 5 year old loves drawing but her drawings aren’t as detailed as these. I think she draws well for her age given what her peers produce, so I’d say these are above average. I love all the colours - they’re so lively.

U53rn8m3ch8ng3 · 26/06/2025 13:17

They're about the same as my 5 year old, don't know if that's good or above.

Coffeeandcrochet · 26/06/2025 13:19

Much better than my 5 year old, who really can't be bothered with drawing for some reason. Great skills!

Fanxjanx · 26/06/2025 13:22

My friends son (aged 5) draws at a similar ability and I’m always very impressed by his skills. I think they’re very good for a 5 year old.

Pyjamatimenow · 26/06/2025 13:24

These are similar to Dd4’s(5 in December). She draws details, like my earrings and necklace with my pendants on. I think it’s fairly advanced from what I’ve seen others coming out of school with.

DiscoBob · 26/06/2025 13:26

It looks about average for five. I've seen better and worse. His use of colour and his imagination are great. They're very cute. But I wouldn't say quite up to professional standards yet. 😁

Dontlletmedownbruce · 26/06/2025 13:28

I teach preschool and these are particularly good. Excellent I'd say. Just this morning I was sorting through art for the kids starting primary in September and maybe 1 of the group of 12 was this advanced. Some of them were very poor, not much more than scribbles but most were in between. Being able to draw a recognisable thing is a milestone we look for, also the ability to draw something you mentally imagine first (whether it exists or not) A less advanced child may draw random things then afterwards tell you what it is but they are only making it up as they go. As they advance they should be able to draw what you ask or what they decide in advance.

Talk to him about his art as much as possible. This is a really good way of advancing speech and connecting with him. Challenge him to draw a particular thing and see if he can. This could be a fantastic way of expressing himself if he has difficulty around communication, he could draw a little comic or story board to explain things if needs be.

The pencil control is excellent too for a kid who only started a few months back. He must have good fine motor skills.

Be proud @BeNattyAzure88

Laiste · 26/06/2025 13:29

They are top end of average for his age i think.

We're all very arty in our family (i did it for a living once) and his are like mine at that age and like 2 of my DDs who are fab at art.

The wonderful creations in his pics put me in mind of the Voynich Manuscripts !

mynameiscalypso · 26/06/2025 13:35

Miles and miles better than my (nearly) 6 year old. Better than me too.

24Dogcuddler · 26/06/2025 13:48

I’d say excellent for an autistic 5 year old including the writing. Lots of detail and imagination. Good concentration and attention to detail.
Often fine manipulative skills can be an area of difficulty. How does he cope if he makes a mistake?
I’d be providing lots of materials for him e.g easel with chalk board and paper on the reverse for painting and drawing. Thick and thin quality felt tips e.g.Berol. A magnetic drawing/ writing board Magnadoodle type. Maybe a computer based drawing package. At this age our daughter
( diagnosed aged 3) preferred drawing on the PC as she would enlarge for fine detail and mistakes were easily undone.