Deciphering children's drawings step by step
Over the years as part of my work as an expert in deciphering children's drawings, I am asked what the process of deciphering children's drawings includes. In this comprehensive guide, I will guide you through the step-by-step process of deciphering children's drawings, relying on both research findings and practical insights from my personal experience in the field. I hope that after this article, the process will be clear to all parents and professionals. Children's drawings are a form of non-verbal communication, and they often reflect their thoughts, feelings and experiences. As psychologist and researcher Dr. Maria Montessori once said, "The child is the teacher."
After twenty years of experience in the field of decoding children's drawings as a decoder of children's drawings, I have developed several different models of decoding. In fact, in my work I divide the field of deciphering the paintings into three work centers.
The individual work, the family work, and the work of mediation and conflict resolution with the help of deciphering paintings.
Individual work is divided into two types,
The first is spotwork in front of a painting that is feared to harm in one way or another the person who painted the painting.
The second, is individual work for the purpose of decoding to write a decoding report, with the help of which a treatment plan can be put together based on the findings discovered in the drawings.
family work
Quite a few families live in a pressure cooker, the parents who live in daily survival bring home to the family a system of pressures that affects life at home, starting with the relationship with the spouse through the relationships with the children. Stress affects family life, children's development and day-to-day dealings in society and schools.
In working with the family, I incorporate the unique model I developed in which the whole family integrates into the arrangement and the process of deciphering the paintings. In the end, you get a clear picture of the relationship within the family, of the points of friction within the family. With the help of the obtained results, a special program is built to improve the relationship within the family.
The third field in which I deal in the field of decoding, is mediation and conflict resolution with the help of a special model that contains a special process of closeness and opening a dialogue. All with the help of deciphering drawings.
In fact, the process of decoding the drawings is the same in each of the models, the difference is the collection of the results and the purpose of the program for which we perform the decoding.
Here are the steps in the process of decoding children's drawings
Step 1: Observation and initial impressions
The first step in deciphering children's drawings is to look carefully at the drawing to get a first impression based on what you see. At this stage I also use my intuition, sometimes I also try to energetically feel the painting and the messages it conveys energetically. At this stage I pay attention to the content, the symbols, the colors and the general composition of the painting, paying attention to any recurring and prominent themes or motifs.
Research example: A study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that first impressions of children's drawings can provide important insights into their emotional well-being and cognitive development. By looking at the content and symbolism of the paintings, the researchers were able to identify patterns that correlated with various psychological factors.
Step 2: Symbolic Analysis
After making initial observations, I begin to delve deeper into the symbolic meaning behind the elements present in the drawing. Attempts to understand the meaning of common symbols such as people, animals, objects and settings, as well as any unique or unusual symbols that may require further interpretation.
Research example: A study conducted by psychologist Dr. Anna Smith investigated the symbolic language of children's drawings and identified a number of central themes and symbols common in their artwork. By analyzing the symbolic content of the drawings, Dr. Smith was able to uncover insights into cognitive and emotional development of children.
Step 3: Contexts and Interpretation
Next, it is important to consider the wider context in which the drawing was created, including the child's age, developmental stage, personal experiences and cultural background. This information is very important, in contextual information you get the tools to interpret the symbolism and understand the basic thoughts, feelings and motivations behind the painting, which results in higher accuracy in the decoding process, the smaller the deviation the more contexts are taken into account.
Example of a study: A study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology emphasized the importance of considering contextual factors when interpreting children's drawings. By considering the child's personal characteristics and environmental influences, the researchers were able to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning behind the creation.
Step 4: Communication and Verification
After analyzing the drawing and creating initial interpretations, it is essential, if possible, to communicate with the child to verify his thoughts, feelings and experiences. I encourage the child to share his perspective on the drawing, ask open-ended questions to stimulate discussion, and provide validation and support for his creativity and self-expression. As I have mentioned sometimes, depending on the circumstances it is not possible to talk to the child, or then it is necessary to cross check additional information that can come from the parents or the referring party.
Example of a study: A study published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies emphasized the importance of validating children's drawings as a form of communication and self-expression. By dialoguing with the child about their artwork, the researchers were able to gain insight into their inner world and foster a sense of empowerment and validation.
Step 5: Documentation and follow-up
Finally, I record my observations, interpretations, and interactions with the child's drawing for future reference and follow-up. I keep a detailed record of the drawing itself, as well as any comments or reflections on the analysis and my communication with the child. Documentation is of great importance, we will use this documentation to track changes over time and inform ongoing support and interventions as needed.
Even when I enter the process of deciphering paintings, I ask for early paintings in order to get an accurate picture, whether there has been one change or another during the preceding months.
Research example: A longitudinal study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology followed the development of children's drawing over time and documented changes in their artwork as they grew and developed. By systematically documenting children's drawings and tracking their progress, the researchers were able to obtain and are important about their developmental trajectories.
Summary
Deciphering children's drawings is a nuanced and multifaceted process that requires a lot of experience, professionalism and high professional ethics, which strengthen observation, analysis, interpretation and careful communication. By following the process step by step and relying on research findings and practical insights, it is possible to open the door to the information-rich subconscious and the meaning hidden within each child's artwork, fostering understanding, validation and support of their unique perspectives and experiences.
This article was written by Kobi Avraham (MA) Social change in the arts, an expert decipherer of children's paintings.
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