Draw out your senses
What your child’s drawings can tell you.
ONE of my favourite studies conducted around children and their dominant sense involved children between the ages of two and five years, in a controlled setting who were given free rein to simply draw. Through their drawings, these children could be classified into their dominant sensory modes.
This is great news for us at home as it’s an easy way to determine not only your own child’s dominant sense but also any visiting friends. Follow the classifications below and see which classification your children fall into.
Visual children would pick up each colour of the crayon, and mark the page, being careful to use the whole page and every colour.
Their drawings, from the start are colourful and expressive. Unlike the other senses they seemed to approach drawing or painting with the finished picture in mind, and were willing to spend time mastering little details.
Their drawings tend to be pretty but not personal, and contain more popular representations rather than their own visual experience. The personal component for them seemed to come from others seeing and commenting on their drawing and not drawing as that expression.
Tactile children, preferring to stand, would survey the blank piece of paper quickly, grab one or more pencils in one hand and vigorously scribble across the page. While they were aware of the edges of the paper, they were unconcerned about being within its border.
As quickly as they started they would stop, throw the page on the floor and repeat the action on the next page.
The younger children preferred crayons, as they “didn’t feel as scratchy” on the white page, while a ball point pen became the favorite for the older children. They usually picked one colour, possibly adding another if pressed.
For taste and smell children, a blue squiggle on a blank page would be a representation of something precious and contain lots of meaning.
The squiggle often was of someone the child knew and loved, and the colour often one that they associate with that person.
They drew, with intent in mind, and while the drawing might not look, to us as adults, like anything in particular; to the child it was very clear, and very important that the viewer appreciated and knew what the squiggle was.
Their drawings mostly consisted of family members, pets and close friends.
Auditory children, preferred to be organised before they start drawing. They had looked at the different pencils, crayons and colours of paint, made sure they were in a comfortable position, before picking their favourite colour and proceeding to make circular patters all over the page.
Their drawing style is balanced, organised using two or three colours. Even as young children they would prefer to use primary colours, being very aware, about boarders, spatial balance and symmetry.
Drawing is a wonderfully creative expression for your child, and therefore a great way to determine your child’s sense.
Next time you find difficulties in understanding your child’s behaviour, give them some paper, pencils and determine the solution based upon what you’ve learned about their dominant sense. – Tribune News Service