Progression in children's drawing typically moves from what to what?

The progression in children's drawing reflects their cognitive and motor development as they grow. The journey often starts with free expression, such as "free radicals," where children make random marks and gestures on paper. This initial stage is critical as it allows them to explore their creativity and gain control over the drawing tools.

As their skills mature, children move toward creating basic shapes. At this stage, they begin to recognize and reproduce simple geometric forms like circles, squares, and triangles. This shift from random marks to identifiable shapes signifies an important cognitive development where children start to categorize and symbolize their environment.

While other options present interesting concepts, the movement from free radicals to basic shapes captures the essence of early artistic development accurately. It highlights the transition from pure exploration to structured representation, laying the foundation for further skills in drawing.