How to analyze children’s drawings?

The square will be the house, the triangle will be its roof, and above it will be the solar circle. This is how a child of 3-4 years old draws a house for the first time. And these first works are of great interest to psychologists, because they are incredibly able to tell a lot about their little author.

“These geometric shapes are a universal, symbolic language that children use to express themselves,” explains psychoanalyst Varenka Mark. — The drawing of the house conveys how they feel in the space around them, how they feel their body. For example, if in the picture the house collapses on its side, it is unstable, the child, most likely, also “does not feel the ground under his feet”, is confused or oppressed by something.

However, you should not immediately sound the alarm if black clouds with lightning suddenly appear in the children’s album or a castle that is too skewed: “His sense of his own body is constantly changing, and so is the drawing, depending on the age and the feelings that excite the child.”

An older child is already more attentive to the surrounding reality and, drawing, reproduces the details of real houses. “In the drawing, his attitude to what is “outside” will be more manifest,” Mark Varenka concludes. “But this story is extremely interesting!”

Five-year-old Karina refused to communicate with others. Her work with a psychologist lasted almost two years: from the drawings that the girl made during psychotherapy sessions, one can trace the impressive changes these sessions led to.

September: She doesn’t communicate

“A narrow, cramped house with no windows, which means that without communication with the outside world, a door that cannot be opened conveys the inner state of the girl: she feels squeezed, constrained. However, the bright colors and upwardly directed forms of the drawing express her desire to get out of this state.

Delicate flowers — small living creatures — perhaps remind the girl of the serene state of infancy. This is also the experience of the Oedipal period: flowers are like many little daughters with which a girl would like to please her father.

January: Karina opens up to the world

“Two new elements appear in the drawing of the house: a small window at the top (the girl is not yet ready to open, but she is watching what is happening around) and a pipe on the roof — a link between the house (child) and the sky (the world around). The smoke from the chimney evokes thoughts of a warm family atmosphere.

Images of parents — trees near the house; it seems that they guard him, protect him. The tree on the left symbolizes the firm figure of the father; the one on the right, with a flowering crown, corresponds to the mother, from whom one can find affection and protection.

Mai: she asserts herself

“The house has clear contours, which means that Karina feels more confident than before. There are now two windows in the picture: she is still watching the world, but a large red (active) window indicates that the girl is ready to start communicating.

The number of windows and doors in the drawn house corresponds to the number of members of her family: by recognizing their place for her parents, Karina can find her own and defend it.

March: Karina found her place

“10 months later, the house takes on noticeable dimensions — Karina has become more confident. The sun, a vivid image of strength and power, also suggests that the girl feels better. The trumpet disappeared, but birds flew in — a symbol of communication and spiritual aspirations.

The trees have disappeared (Karina no longer needs support), curtains have appeared on the windows — a kind of “eyelids on the eyes”: the child is now able not only to open up, but also to protect his inner space from intrusion from the outside.