Children’s Proportions

The proportions of a child’s head differ from those of an adult. For example, children generally have larger foreheads, so the eyebrows—not the eyes—fall on the horizontal center line. Also, a youngster’s eyes are usually bigger, rounder, and spaced farther apart than an adult’s.

As shown in the diagrams at right and lower left, use horizontal guidelines to divide the area from the brow line to the chin into four equal sections. Use these lines to determine the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.

As shown above, the forehead can be divided vertically into five equal sections. Refer to these guidelines when placing the facial features.

Notice that a child’s forehead protrudes farther than an adult’s and that the hairline starts much higher.

As children get older, their faces become longer, and the facial proportions change accordingly.

Notice that, as the face becomes longer and narrower, the chin becomes more square, and the eyes appear smaller.