Kindergartners and second- and fourth-graders were asked to draw familiar objects to see if their drawings would be guided more by graphic principles or by the view before them. Use of graphic principles prevailed in choice of orientation, although many older children recorded other details of the objects they viewed. (Author/SJL)

Four experiments examined links and differences between children's copying line diagrams and drawing solid objects. Findings suggest that emphasis on order of line copying improves copying performance because line-to-line matching is an important element of the skill, whereas this does not aid drawing of the solid object, in which focus is…

Investigated the components of artistic style in young children, using longitudinal studies and a retrospective measure in which judges used children's later drawings to identify their art from earlier in childhood. Explored the concept of "artworld" as an aid in elucidating children's art and style by accounting for the "how"…

Six physically maltreated children and 12 matched non-maltreated children (ages 4-8) were asked to draw their "favorite kind of day." Drawings were compared on three criteria: inclement weather, size, and movement of weather. Results showed that over a period of 18 months, maltreated and non-maltreated children consistently drew similar drawings.…

This article proposes a new schema for defining developmental stages in the drawing of geometrical objects. In four studies, children and adults drew cubes and cylinders. Data demonstrate that stages appear in invariant order with 2-year-olds drawing scribbles, single units appearing at 3 years, differentiated figures at 4 years, and integrated…

This study analysed 9 to 11 year old children's drawings of tropical rainforests immediately before and after a visit to the Humid Tropics Biome at the Eden Project, Cornwall, UK. A theoretical framework derived from considerations of informal learning and constructivism was used as a basis to develop a methodology to interpret the children's…

Investigates the uniqueness and distinguishability of individual drawing styles among school-age children to determine whether they have individual artistic styles that go unnoticed. Some support for individual graphic artistic style was provided. Aspects of stylistic distinction are discussed, and recommendations for classroom drawing instruction…

This paper presents findings from a longitudinal, participant-observation study of one boy's spontaneous drawings from preadolescence to adolescence. Themes related to adolescent developmental psychology emerge in the drawings. Concludes that doodling and memory drawing permit imaginative play and free ideation while drawing from pictures…

Posters submitted by school-age children to poster contests sponsored by the Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario were analyzed to gain insight into children's beliefs regarding the effects of alcohol use. (Author/MT)

Investigated the representational model of self and attachment figures in family drawings of 8- to 9-year-olds in a high-risk, racially mixed sample. Found that specific signs and global rating scales were related to early relationship history. Even after contemporary influences of child intelligence, stress, and emotional functioning were…

Sought to determine if the physical design of learning environments can foster a sense of student ownership in the learning process. Found that the stronger students' perceptions are that their artwork can be permanently displayed, the greater their sense of ownership. (EV)

Compares a child's drawings at home with the child's drawings at school. Concludes that children can activate meaning in a different way at home than at school. Suggests that transforming artifacts across sites may be something children do that often goes undocumented. (SG)

Explores the development of drawing abilities in 185 children of 5-10 years and 27 adults. Even the youngest children were able to judge the correct age sequence of drawings at above chance levels. However, their rankings were more erroneous than those of older children and of adults. (RJC)

Studied gender differences in drawings by 261 elementary school children responding to projective drawing task. Findings support assumption that children who respond to projective drawing tasks tend to identify themselves with principal subjects of their drawings. Most subjects drew pictures about subjects same gender as themselves. (Author/NB)

Investigated perceptions of poverty among 6- and 7-year-olds in Poland, expressed in drawings and discussion, comparing results to those of a United Nations Development Program study of preschoolers' perceptions. The approach showed that new forms of activity, based mainly on early intervention of psychologists, pedagogues, and physicians, are…