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Understanding Toddlers' Drawings

Children first represent human forms with a round circle for the head and strokes for extremities. If parents notice that other details have been added to the drawing eyes, noses, mouths, ears, for example but the form is still without feet, this may indicate a sense of insecurity. But, Winter says, "scribblers do not conceive space as adults do. Therefore, spatial relationships are irrelevant. Our observation should concentrate on the graphic symbols only." So if the child draws a person with feet who seems to be standing on nothing, that's all right.

"The circle containing the face is usually very revealing," says Winter. It is here where children begin adding details and features hair, eyes, mouth and much can be learned from the details they draw. Winter notes several clear warning signs, but stresses again that the key is to look for patterns which manifest themselves over time, not isolated incidents.

• Exceptionally large ears, unadorned by earrings, can indicate verbal abuse. Sometimes the child will draw lines leading to the ears, to demonstrate the abusive tone she frequently encounters.



• An anxious, uncomfortable child may represent the mouth with a long slit. On the other hand, if the child does not draw a mouth at all, it may be a sign of his inability to communicate.



• When a child draws "empty" eyes, it may mean that she has difficulty relating to the reality around her. In a sense, the child is blind to reality.



• Jagged teeth frequently indicate a tendency toward aggressive behavior, especially when coupled with other serrated graphic symbols such as spiked fingers, feet, ears, and hair.

Toddlers are by nature expressive people. It's up to their parents to listen closely to the many messages children send, especially the unspoken ones.