My evolved style of drawing children has the base of a chibi, a sauce made from my observations, and a sprinkle of mentors, like Patrice Barton, a best-selling children's books illustrator.
After reading her book 'The Invisible Boy', I was inspired by the motion and emotion in her children- but I wanted my kids to be more duplicatable and definite in line.
Both above and below are sample pieces from my Educational Text portfolio.
There are some KEY differences between these kiddos and actual chibis to really define them as kindergartners instead of tiny 25 year-olds!
How to draw chibi Kids chart: (aka my observations)
Kids do not have boobs. Or thighs. Or bumpy muscles. They are smooth, soft round beans. I picture a milk jug for the torso, you could see a sack of flour. I see a tire, and you could see... a tire. *shrug*.
Eyes are spaced out further because of their
fat big heads, which are also longer than your normal chibi. The neck is a funnel. (how can they hold up their heads? Idk)
Refrain from sharp angles, kids should still have a healthy amount of baby fat to round out their shoulders and elbows. Only a slight curve indicates the child's calf.
