Does DS drawing people with no arms mean anything?

[Mum1234]

DS is 5 and when he draw pictures of people he sometimes doesn't draw arms on them. Interested to know if there is any meaning behind it? Lots of TLC at home so not concerned that it might be lack of cuddles or something, just intrigued more than anything!

[DiscoDonkey]

Maybe they have their hands behind their back?

[Edforangeblobfan]

Yes,my dd used to draw people with no arms as such.I asked her where the arms were and she said "They are behind their back".

[stargirl1701]

There is an old (60s/70s) drawing programme from Jordanhill Education College to encourage children to add detail to their drawings. I used it with a Primary 1 class in an area of significant deprivation as most of the children were drawing blobs at 5 rather than people.

The Aston Index (again old) has a 'Draw a Man' assessment where the elements drawn are scored to give a rough 'cognitive' age.

The theory goes, if you want a child to draw something, make them aware of it. So, for arms pop him into a scratchy wooly jumper then ask him to draw himself. For hands, cover them in sticky jam then ask him to draw himself. By drawing his attention to these elements of himself he is more likely to 'draw' them on paper.

I think the Jordanhill programme was called 'Foundations of Drawing' and it preceded the very popular 'Foundations of Writing'.

[Mum1234]

Not thought of that, might surreptitiously ask that one..

[Mum1234]

Thanks, will have a look at that, you never know he could actually be building up to being the next Van Gough or something!

[stargirl1701]

I love looking a children's drawings. They different types of scribbles you get at 1/2 years - swirls, lines, stabs. The first circle of the face with the arms and legs coming out of the head. The adding of the body. Just fascinating - a wee window into their thinking.

I often love teaching!