Beyond Scribbles: What Your Child’s Drawings Are Really Telling You

As children, we all remember the excitement we felt about our drawings- the masterpieces into which we poured our thoughts and energy. But as parents, we often dismiss these childlike doodles as meaningless scribbles on a blank page.

Have we ever considered that these “scribbles” might actually be a language of their own, sometimes expressing far more than we could imagine? It’s no surprise that the field of interpreting children’s drawings has become increasingly popular in recent years. These drawings offer a fascinating window into a child's mind and soul. The colors they choose and how they draw, can tell us so much about their personality, their needs, their experiences, and their sources of joy.

Parents often settle for short, vague answers to questions like “How was preschool?” or “What did you learn today?” But according to psychologist Rivka Fishman, children's drawings can provide far deeper and more satisfying answers- not only to those questions, but to many others. “Unlike adults, children often struggle to put their experiences into words- and sometimes, they simply don’t want to,” she explains. “But from the moment a child can hold a marker or crayon and draw on a page, we can start communicating with them through their artwork, gaining insight into how they feel and what they think. As they grow, their drawings become even more revealing, without us having to coax information out of them.”

What can a child’s choice of color reveal?

Here are a few examples:

• Frequent use of green suggests a highly creative child with a strong connection to nature.
• Frequent use of red indicates a dominant personality with a desire to be the center of attention and a need for recognition.
• Frequent use of yellow points to a sensitive, intelligent child who has a deep bond with their family- sometimes to the point of dependency.
• Frequent use of blue reflects a rational and intelligent child who tends to be calm and serene.

Next time your child hands you a drawing, display it where it will be seen and appreciated!