In my view, one of the most important areas in interpreting children's drawings is the ability to identify signs of abuse, whether it be from children or adolescents. Abuse is difficult in any area of life, its implications are deep and long-lasting, sometimes irreparable. Especially if a long time has passed since the onset of distress or hardship. Therefore, early detection of it is most important, the earlier the better. Interpreting children's drawings is therefore a tool that allows early identification.
I am not discussing in this article the treatment of abuses or who needs and can treat abuses. I am here in early detection by interpreting children's drawings.
I dedicate this article to identifying violence and sexual violence and how it is reflected in children's drawings.
Violence (abuse) is a very broad field, there is physical violence, emotional violence, verbal violence, economic violence, sexual violence, and the list is very long.
There is the abusive side and there is the victim, sometimes there is a family relationship between them, sometimes a romantic relationship, sometimes a social relationship, and sometimes they do not know each other at all. This has a lot of meaning in understanding the distress and certainly in finding the solution and the way of treatment.
To discuss the subject, we need to recognize some of the signs by which it is possible to identify or through which the suspicion arises that the painter is going through or has gone through abuse.
Here are some signs that may indicate the possibility of sexual violence:
The first and most prominent of them are drawings of sex organs, drawings depicting sexual body parts, or sexual acts that may testify to violence or sexual abuse. However, it is important to take into account the child's stage of development and cultural context when assessing the content of the drawing. It is important to remember that drawing sex organs by children is not necessarily evidence of sexual abuse.
They may be in the stage of their sexual recognition and dealing with sex organs is their learning of the subject.
They may also grow up in a free family whose part of the social code is the ability to walk around naked. Some families have joint showers with parents and children until a late age and this can certainly be expressed in children's drawings.
Drawings of detailed or exaggerated figures:
Children who have experienced sexual violence can draw figures in an exaggerated or overly detailed way.
Drawings of figures with missing parts:
Children who have experienced sexual violence can draw figures that lack body parts.
Drawings of figures in certain situations:
Children who have experienced sexual violence can draw figures in situations that indicate violence or abuse.
Power imbalance:
Look for signs of power imbalance or control, such as one figure towering over or controlling another.
Blood or injury: The presence of blood or injuries can indicate that the child has experienced or witnessed some form of violence or trauma.
Violence or injury:
Look for signs of violence, such as weapons, physical injury, or injuries depicted in the drawing.
Abnormal or inappropriate relationships:
If the drawing depicts abnormal or inappropriate relationships between figures, it could be a sign of exposure to harmful behavior or experience with it.
Return:
If a child draws the same subjects or similar images over and over again, it may be a sign that he is trying to process a traumatic experience.
Secrecy or hiding:
If the drawing depicts figures hiding or keeping secrets, it may indicate that the child feels unsafe or threatened.
Along with what can be seen through the drawings, behavioral changes in the painter can also be identified closely.
Distress or fear:
If a child appears distressed or afraid while drawing or discussing the drawing, it may be a sign that the content is related to a traumatic experience.
Regression:
If a child who has previously demonstrated advanced drawing skills suddenly produces less sophisticated drawings or reverts to an earlier stage of drawing development, it may be a sign of trauma.
Secrecy or reluctance:
If a child is secretive or reluctant to share his drawing, or if he is upset or agitated when asked about the drawing, it may be a sign that the content is sensitive or related to a traumatic experience.
Unfortunately, it is still not common for the use of interpreting children's drawings to serve as evidence and proof of sexual abuse in court, but there have been cases where drawings have led to further investigation and discovery of sexual abuse.
Here are some examples:
In 2014, a teacher in Florida, USA, was arrested and charged with sexually abusing a child after a worried parent found a disturbing drawing in his child's backpack. The drawing depicted a stick figure with an X on the chest and another figure standing above it with an erect phallus. The parent reported the drawing to the authorities, which led to an investigation and ultimately the arrest of the offender.
In 2012, a caregiver in Australia was charged with sex crimes against children after a worried parent found a series of disturbing drawings in their child's bag. The drawings depicted sexual acts and were accompanied by messages such as "I love you" and "I will always love you". The parent reported the drawings to the authorities, which led to an investigation and ultimately the arrest of the offender.
In 2009, a teacher in Texas, USA, was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a child after a worried parent found a series of disturbing drawings in his child's notebook. The drawings depicted sexual acts and were accompanied by messages such as "I love you" and "I will always love you". The parent reported the drawings to the authorities, which led to an investigation and ultimately the arrest of the offender.
If all stakeholders join forces, we can improve the ability for early detection and appropriate intervention.
For example:
Support for Educators and Parents
Guided communication: Teachers and parents can use drawings as a tool to initiate conversations about sensitive topics, and to open avenues for children to express their feelings and experiences.
Identifying support needs:
Understanding the content of children's drawings helps educators and parents identify any emotional or psychological support the child may need, and enables appropriate interventions.
Promoting healing and resilience:
Through interpretation and intervention, professionals can support children in processing their experiences, fostering healing and resilience.
Collaborative Approaches to Child Welfare
Collaboration among professionals is vital to mitigating the challenges facing children related to sexual violence. By pooling resources and expertise, a multi-disciplinary approach can provide an effective response to the needs of affected children and prevent further harm.
Coordination Among Professionals
Information sharing: Establishing information-sharing channels between police, social workers, educators, and parents ensures a comprehensive understanding of the child's situation and needs.
Cross-disciplinary training:
Providing training on identifying signs of sexual violence in children's drawings equips professionals with the skills needed for sensitive and efficient intervention.
Holistic Support for Children
Trauma-informed care: Adopting trauma-informed approaches ensures that interventions are sensitive to the child's experiences and promote healing rather than re-traumatization.
Access to resources:
Collaborative efforts to provide access to counseling, support groups, and other resources help meet the diverse needs of children affected by sexual violence.
Education and prevention:
Through joint efforts, professionals can support policies and programs aimed at preventing sexual violence and promoting child safety and well-being.
If you are concerned about a child's drawing or behavior, it is important to seek professional help from a licensed mental health professional or child protection services. They can provide the child with a safe and supportive environment to express their feelings and experiences and can help connect the child and their family with appropriate resources and support.
This article was written by Koby Avraham (MA) kids' drawing analyzer.
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