AGE
Children communicating through drawing
When children are drawing together, they often share ideas and ‘talk' visually together through the process of drawing. Listening to these conversations can reveal the impetus that children have to communicate visually.
The following conversations took place on two occasions while three four-year-old children were drawing together at a child care centre in Sydney.
[Suzanne is a student teacher, Genevive and Hayley are twins.]
[conversation 1]
Olivia: “This is my dad.”
Genevieve: “Okay, I'll do my mum. No actually I'm doing Hayley.” “I'll do pink for her mouth because she loves pink. She's so happy Hayley. I'll give her brown hair and a pink dress.”
Hayley joins Genevieve and Olivia at drawing table.
Genevieve: “Look Hayley, I'm going to do you. See the pink. I've done you with very long hair.”
Olivia: “I need black. But I like pink the best, it's my favourite.”
Suzanne: “What do you like about pink?”
Olivia: “I just like the colour.”
Genevieve: “I'm finished!”
Suzanne: Have you added everything you need?”
Genevieve: “Oh, no.” Proceeds to add flowers.
Genevieve: “It looks like Hayley is drawing a house.”
Hayley: “I am drawing a house.”
Genevieve: “She said she is.”
Hayley: “It's my house for mummy, daddy and me and Genevieve.”
Genevieve: “Here, now I'm finished.” Leaves table.
Hayley: “I'm finished now too.” Leaves table.