CHILDREN'S EMOTIONS THROUGH PAINTING

Why painting is so important for developing a healthy child's emotional world

 

  

A simple smudge is functioning as a communication language for the children. It is a language that if uncovered and decoded reveals anger, happiness, frustration or jealousy. Children communicate their feelings from early ages through images they put on paper. In a world that is built for "grown ups" a child is attached with the role that is applied on him/her through the paintings. 

The decoding of a child's drawing is a procedure that can reveal the secret meaning that the child is feeling as drawing. Many emotions and thoughts can be found by watching the following basic things: Lines- are they thin, intense, colorful?  Is there color in the drawing?

Important also is to see how the child is picturing the family. Within this drawing we can see the relations of the child and the other family members with each other, and how the child feels about them. 

• In which order are the family members displayed?
• Does the kid pictures itself as well or is it missing from the family portrait?.
• Where is it placing itself inside the drawing? If he puts itself near a certain family member perhaps it can mean that the kid is missing this person or wishes to spend more time with him/her.
• Sometimes when the kid is trying to minimize the importance or is scared/annoyed by something a family member has done, then it pictures this member as smaller than the others (i.e. a brother or sister that the child is jealous of)

Parents should encourage their kids to express themselves with as many opportunities as possible. That is of great importance. 

And of course, do not ever criticize or worry about the techniques that the child is using. Maybe the little artists are not perfect yet, but for sure they long for attention and care.Being able to communicate and read a child's dreams, fears, hopes and fantasies is the most important thing in the world.