It’s a wonderful way for them to express themselves in a creative, nonverbal form. The creative possibilities are endless and go as far as their imagination can take them. Along this journey they explore who they are and the world around them. Most of all it’s fun! Have you ever watched a small child with a box of crayons, a tub of play dough, or finger-paints? The joy of art continues into teen years and is encouraged in schools. Art can help heighten self-esteem and improve overall academic performance of students.
Children love to draw and paint, and their work is a reflection of their inner world. Most kids don't think about their artwork. For the past 9 years, I've used children's drawings as an important part of my study.
The family drawing helps me survey development at a given moment in time, and it may tip me off to potential problems. A single drawing is a snapshot of a child's point of view -- of her role in the family, her relationship to other family members, and her self-esteem. It also may show strengths in the child and the family that are important to recognize and validate. It can indicate cultural patterns that give me a better understanding of some behaviors or beliefs. I always ask the parents for their impression of the drawing, because our conversation can yield even more information that may not come up otherwise.
A big caveat here:
We all want to find hidden meanings in drawings, but be cautious about overinterpreting. It's not a good idea to read too much into your child's sketches. Instead, use them as an opportunity to talk with your child about what he or she has drawn. Then ask questions about them to enhance communication between you. Do your best to avoid giving too many of your own impressions. I purposely keep the conversation very open-ended: "Tell me about your drawing. Who are the people in the picture? What are they doing?" For examples of what you might be looking for with your own children, check out my analysis of these kids' drawings.
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