What is children's drawings analysis, and what can and cannot be understood from a drawing? Common myths about colours and figures, and the right approach.
Have you ever looked at a picture your child has drawn and worried: "Why has he coloured everything black?", "Why has she drawn herself so small?" or "Why hasn't he put his father in the picture?" Lists shared on social media, along the lines of "If your child uses red, they're angry", can make this worry even greater. Yet analysing children's drawings is not about drawing conclusions from a single colour or figure; it is a careful process that considers the child's age, level of development, living circumstances and what they say while drawing, all together. In this article we look at what children's drawings can really tell us, the most common misconceptions and how a specialist approaches the subject.
What Is Children's Drawing Analysis?
Drawing is one of the natural ways in which children express feelings, thoughts and experiences that they find hard to put into words. For young children whose language skills are still developing in particular, paper and pencil can be a window onto their inner world.
Analysing children's drawings is one of the supportive assessment tools used in child psychology. The specialist observes the free drawings a child makes, or drawings made to specific instructions (for example "Draw a family", "Draw a person", "Draw a house, a tree and a person"). But this observation covers far more than the drawing itself:
- How the child behaves while drawing: relaxed or tense, finishing quickly?
- What they say about the drawing, what names and stories they give the figures
- How well the drawing fits the developmental features expected for the child's age
- Themes that recur in drawings made over time
- Consistency with information gathered from the family, school and other observations
For this reason, a drawing alone is not a test result or a diagnostic tool. It is one piece of a jigsaw puzzle and only takes on meaning together with the other pieces.
How Do Children's Drawings Develop With Age?
Before assessing a drawing, you need to know how a child of that age usually draws. Otherwise a normal feature of development can be mistakenly read as a "sign of a problem".
The Scribbling Stage (Roughly Ages 2-4)
The child first makes random lines, then circles and more controlled scribbles. In this period, a drawing is less about representing something than about the pleasure of movement and of leaving a mark. The child sometimes gives a name to a scribble afterwards: "This is mummy."
The Pre-Schematic Stage (Roughly Ages 4-7)
Human figures known as "tadpole people", in which arms and legs come directly out of a large circle, are typical of this stage. Figures can be scattered on the paper as if floating in the air, and colours may not be realistic. A purple dog or a green sun is entirely ordinary at this age.
The Schematic Stage (Roughly Ages 7-9)
The child begins to use a baseline and a skyline, and draws objects in set patterns (schemas). Some children make "X-ray" drawings that show the inside and outside of a house at the same time. This is also a developmental feature.
The Realism and Pre-Adolescent Stage (Roughly Age 9 and Over)
The child gives more importance to detail, proportion and realism. In this period many children may move away from drawing, saying "I can't draw well"; this is often related to increased self-criticism and does not necessarily mean an emotional problem.
These stages are not separated by firm boundaries; some children reach a stage earlier, others later. Fine motor skills, experience of holding a pencil and the time given to drawing also affect how a drawing looks. The drawings of a child who has not attended nursery or kindergarten may look simpler than those of a peer of the same age; this tells us about their experience, not about their emotional world. For this reason, the child's developmental history is always taken into account when analysing children's drawings.
Common Myths About Children's Drawings
Some interpretations widely shared online can cause parents needless worry. Let's go through the most common ones.
"A Child Who Uses Black or Red Is Unhappy or Angry"
Colour choice depends on many factors: which pencils are on the table, which colour colours in best, the child's preference that day or the real colour of what they are drawing. Black is often chosen because it leaves the clearest line, while red is one of many children's favourite colours. The colour choice in a single drawing does not give reliable information about the child's emotional state.
"A Child Who Leaves Someone Out of the Family Picture Doesn't Like That Person"
The child may have left someone out because the paper ran out, because that person wasn't at home at that moment or simply because they forgot. Of course, if the same person is repeatedly left out, one may be curious; but its meaning can only be understood by talking with the child and together with other information.
"A Child Who Draws Themselves Small Has Low Self-Confidence"
The size of figures varies depending on the size of the paper, the child's planning skills and the order in which the drawing was made. A child who first draws their parents rather large may be left with little room for themselves.
"A Child Can Be Diagnosed Through Drawing Analysis"
This is perhaps the most important myth. No drawing on its own is evidence of an anxiety disorder, trauma, abuse or any other psychological problem. Drawings are a supportive tool that helps the specialist get to know the child and offers clues for topics to be discussed in the session.
The best way to understand a child's drawing is to ask the child "Will you tell me about your picture?" before interpreting it.
What Can Children's Drawings Show?
Staying away from myths does not mean that drawings tell us nothing. When assessed in the right context, drawings can offer valuable information:
- Recurring themes: A child drawing collapsing houses, disappearing figures or lonely people week after week may point to a feeling worth talking about.
- Sudden changes: If a child who used to draw in colour and detail begins to draw very differently after an event, this can be taken into account.
- The story the child tells: The meaning the child gives the drawing matters more than the drawing itself. A sentence such as "This is me, everyone left me" says more than any line in the picture.
- How relationships are perceived: In family drawings, who is drawn close to whom and what each person is doing can give an idea of how the child experiences relationships within the family.
Say a seven-year-old, in the family drawings made since a new sibling was born, keeps drawing themselves at the edge and away from the others. On its own this is not a problem; but talking with the child about it, increasing the time set aside just for them and making room for them to express their feelings can be a good start.
Children's Drawings and Parental Worries in Turkey
In recent years in Turkey, children's drawings have become a subject of great interest on social media. Parents share drawings made in preschool settings and ask for comments, while some pages make definitive comments of the "This drawing shows this" kind in videos lasting a few seconds. This often worries parents needlessly or, conversely, causes signs that really do deserve attention to be overlooked.
After the 6 February 2023 earthquakes, themes such as collapsed buildings, tents and ambulances appeared in many children's drawings. This is a natural way for children to process what they have been through, and it is often part of the healing process. Rather than banning such drawings or immediately seeing them as a bad sign, it is more supportive to listen calmly to what the child wants to tell. However, if traumatic themes continue intensely for a long time and there are also changes in areas such as sleep, appetite or play, it is useful to speak to a specialist. If a comment you saw on social media has worried you, it helps to remember that it is not a real analysis of children's drawings but a general guess cut off from context.
How Should Parents Approach Their Child's Drawings?
The healthiest approach is to see your child's drawings not as an assessment tool but as a way of connecting with them.
Be Curious Without Judging
Saying "Will you tell me about your picture?" instead of "What's that, it doesn't look like anything" makes it easier for the child to express themselves. Ask open-ended questions: "What is this person doing?", "What's happening here?", "What happens next?"
Avoid Interpreting
Making comments to the child about the drawing, such as "You used red because you're angry, didn't you?", gets in the way of their finding their own meaning. Let the child tell the story.
Value the Process More Than the Result
Feedback that focuses on effort, such as "I can see you used lots of colours in this picture and worked on it for a long time" rather than "What a lovely drawing", supports the child's desire to express themselves.
Make Materials Accessible
Keep pencils in different colours, pastels, watercolours and plenty of paper available. Steering a child towards creative activities instead of screens supports both their expressive skills and attention span; you can also read our article on screen addiction on this subject.
Don't Compare Drawings
Comparing the drawings of siblings or classmates can reduce a child's wish to draw. Sentences like "Your sister drew better than this when she was your age" can quickly lead a child to feel inadequate. Every child's drawing language, interests and pace of development are different. When drawings made at school are put up on a board, being curious about what your child wanted to say, instead of comparing their picture with the others, protects their freedom of expression.
Observe When You're Worried
If a drawing has worried you, instead of drawing conclusions straight away, observe your child's drawings, play, sleep and general mood over a few weeks. It is not a single drawing but the overall picture that matters.
When Should You Seek Professional Support?
Drawings should be considered together with the child's general state rather than as a reason to seek help in themselves. It may be useful to consult a child psychologist in the following situations:
- If themes of intense fear, violence or loss appear in the drawings over a long period
- If the change in drawings is accompanied by problems with sleep, appetite, school or friendships
- If the child makes drawings with sexual content that is not appropriate for their age
- If the child has withdrawn after a difficult event (such as a loss, an earthquake, divorce or illness)
- If, as a parent, you feel you are finding it hard to understand your child's inner world
If you are wondering when such a referral is necessary, our article should I take my child to a psychologist can guide you.
How Is Children's Drawing Analysis Approached in Therapy?
In therapy, drawing is one of the tools for communicating with a child and understanding their world. The specialist does not interpret drawings in isolation; they make a holistic assessment together with the child's developmental history, information from the parents, observations of play and interviews.
In play therapy, drawing can be used together with a sand tray, puppets and other play materials. Through drawing the child expresses their fears, wishes and relationships; the therapist follows these expressions at the child's pace and with the child's meanings. Drawing can also be a soothing activity that helps the child regulate their feelings.
In work with older children, drawing can also be combined with cognitive behavioural therapy techniques: for example, drawing a fear and then "shrinking" it, or visualising ways of coping. In sessions with parents, we talk about how they can support the child at home based on the child's drawings. You can find more information about this approach on the child and play therapy page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child be diagnosed through children's drawing analysis?
No. Drawings are not a diagnostic tool on their own. The specialist assesses drawings together with interviews, observations and information from the family. Interpretations that draw firm conclusions from a single drawing should be approached with caution.
My child always draws the same thing. Is that a problem?
Many children draw the same subject for a certain period, for example cars, princesses or dinosaurs. This is often a sign of an interest or a desire for mastery. However, if the recurring theme involves fear or loss and the child seems to be struggling, it is useful to talk about it.
What does it mean if my child doesn't like drawing at all?
Not every child enjoys drawing; some prefer active play, building toys or music. This does not on its own mean a problem. It is enough to offer other ways of expression.
Should I keep my child's drawings?
Keeping drawings is a good way both to follow your child's development and to let them feel their effort is valued. If you decide to see a specialist, drawings made over time can also contribute to the assessment.
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Eda Erkan Alapala
Klinik Psikolog. İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi Klinik Psikoloji Tezli Yüksek Lisans mezunu; bilişsel davranışçı terapi, çocuk merkezli oyun terapisi ve çocuk-ergen psikoterapisi alanlarında eğitimlerini tamamlamıştır.
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