The drawings produced by nursery children, aged between three and five years, are important expressions of the way they think and feel.
'Nursery staff - and parents - can encourage children to communicate their thoughts and feelings by showing a lively interest in their drawings,' says Dr Jonathan Green, senior lecturer at Manchester University and honorary consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry at Manchester Children's University Hospitals.
'But,' he warns, 'don't anguish over the interpretation of children's drawings. Don't pore over them and assume that, if they are bleak, the child must have terrible emotional problems.'
Dr Green and colleagues have recently devised a new system for interpreting drawings, but he is quick to point out that the system is intended for mental health professionals to use when working with disturbed children.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
