Children's drawings

1. SHPOGY SECONDARY SCHOOL
DECODING CHILDREN’S
DRAWINGS
Research work in English
Author: Diāna Zdanovska
Advisors:
English language teacher
Eva Vovka
Shpogy, 2015

2. THE AIM
To find out more about
children’s inner world by
decoding their drawings.

3. THE TASKS
• To find, collect and analyze theoretical
information about decoding children’s
drawings;
• To collect children’s drawings (topic:
dream teacher);
• To summarize the data gained during the
survey;
• To consult with psychologist Rita Osipova
and our student Linda Vingre (author of a
research work about young learners);
• To present the research work.

4. HYPOTHESIS
Children love to draw. Psychologists
want to find hidden meanings in the
children’s drawings. It is possible to find
out more about children's inner world
by decoding their master pieces.

5. THEORETICAL PART
GENERAL RULES FOR ANALIZYZING
DRAWINGS:
Gender and color preference:
darker colors are used by dominant, green
-creative, yellow- happy, red- excited,
agressive kids, etc;
The position on the page:
left side- past, right - future, bottom –
insecurity, etc.
The size:
large- dominance; short figures- shy; no
arms- not aggressive, etc.

6. • Impulsive child: Big figures, no necks, and
asymmetry of limbs.
• Anxious child: Clouds, rain, flying birds, no eyes
on the figures
• Shy child: Short figures, no nose or mouth, tiny
figures and arms close to the body
• Angry child: Big hands and teeth, long arms,
crossed eyes
• Insecure child: Monstrous figures, tiny heads,
no hands, and slanted figure
THEORETICAL PART
What Emotions Do These Drawings
Reveal?

7. PRACTICAL PART
DRAWING 1
Only head, no body
Red colour
A big head

8. PRACTICAL PART
DRAWING 2
Robot, not a person
Black spikes
A gun
Fire
Blue legs

9. PRACTICAL PART
DRAWING 3
Geometric figures
 Hands up
Red colour
 Smile

10. PRACTICAL PART
DRAWING 4
Short arms
Mouth
Boots

11. PRACTICAL PART
DRAWING 5
Long hair
Lush lips
Hands
Eyes
Colorful dress
Well drawn face

12. CONCLUSION
• Decoding children’s drawings is a
branch of psychology. It is science.
However it differs from such sciences
like math, physics, etc, there are no 100%
sure results.
• The drawings give facts about child’s
inner world and a single drawing is a
snapshot of a child's point of view. They
are a good opportunity to talk with the
child and ask correct questions.

13. RESOURCES
• Interview with:
the psychologist Rita Osipova
Linda Vingre (Form 12), scientific
research work «Angļu valodas
apgūšanu veicinošas metodes
sākumskolas skolēniem»
• http://www.parents.com/fun/arts-
crafts/kid/decode-child-drawings/
• http://www.newkidscenter.com/Inter
preting-Children%27s-Drawings.html

14. •THANK YOU
•YOUR QUESTIONS!