First published in 1983. In this comprehensive volume, Dr. Di Leo once again brings to the reader the fruitful combination of extensive knowledge of children's drawings and an approach to the subject that is intimate and humane, but highly sophisticated. Those familiar with his books have come to expect the lucid style with which Dr. Di Leo leads the clinician toward incisive interpretations of children's drawings, pointing out key features and using, where appropriate, parallels from the world of art and literature. His discussions of over 120 drawings reproduced in this volume cover an astonishing range of topics, including: Interpretation, Formal and Stylistic Features, Mostly Cognition (drawing a man in a boat), Mostly Affect (drawing a house), Projective Significance of Child Art, The Whole and Its Parts, Global Features, Body Parts, Sex Differ­ences and Sex Roles in Western Society as Perceived by Children, Laterality and Its Effects on Drawing, Tree Drawings, and Personality Traits, Emotional Dis­order Reflected in Drawings, Pitfalls, Role of the Arts in Education for Peace, and Reflections. In his analyses, Dr. Di Leo skillfully singles out examples of overinterpreta­tion and other pitfalls, and answers questions such as: What does the thera­pist do when the child refuses to draw the family? Is the drawing a self-image? What are the differences between regres­sive drawings compared with the immature drawings of normal children? Even such fascinating topics as art brut, creativity, madness, and child art are discussed. The reader will find thought-provoking both the author's astute analyses and his keen awareness of the influence of society on children and the pictures they draw. Therapists in the field will find the book remarkably penetrating, while students in the field will delight in its clarity and thoroughness. Every­one who works with the drawings of children will find it absorbing.

First published in 1983. In this comprehensive volume, Dr. Di Leo once again brings to the reader the fruitful combination of extensive knowledge of children's drawings and an approach to the subject that is intimate and humane, but highly sophisticated. Those familiar with his books have come to expect the lucid style with which Dr. Di Leo leads the clinician toward incisive interpretations of children's drawings, pointing out key features and using, where appropriate, parallels from the world of art and literature. His discussions of over 120 drawings reproduced in this volume cover an astonishing range of topics, including: Interpretation, Formal and Stylistic Features, Mostly Cognition (drawing a man in a boat), Mostly Affect (drawing a house), Projective Significance of Child Art, The Whole and Its Parts, Global Features, Body Parts, Sex Differ­ences and Sex Roles in Western Society as Perceived by Children, Laterality and Its Effects on Drawing, Tree Drawings, and Personality Traits, Emotional Dis­order Reflected in Drawings, Pitfalls, Role of the Arts in Education for Peace, and Reflections. In his analyses, Dr. Di Leo skillfully singles out examples of overinterpreta­tion and other pitfalls, and answers questions such as: What does the thera­pist do when the child refuses to draw the family? Is the drawing a self-image? What are the differences between regres­sive drawings compared with the immature drawings of normal children? Even such fascinating topics as art brut, creativity, madness, and child art are discussed. The reader will find thought-provoking both the author's astute analyses and his keen awareness of the influence of society on children and the pictures they draw. Therapists in the field will find the book remarkably penetrating, while students in the field will delight in its clarity and thoroughness. Every­one who works with the drawings of children will find it absorbing.

It is not uncommon for children’s drawings to end up in the wastepaper basket. Yet these early artistic expressions indicate how children communicate with their environment. From the first scratches and scribbles to the detailed sketches of houses and people, the drawings and paintings of our young ones are significant manifestations of inner processes, containing important statements about their development and gradual incarnation into a physical body. Michaela Strauss’s classic work is a pioneer study that can strengthen observation, understanding and love for the being of the child, both in the home and the kindergarten. First issued in 1978, it is republished here with revisions, improved reproductions, a larger format and more than 40 pages of colour illustrations. ‘In its drawings, the child describes for us different conditions of consciousness, which are parallel with those of cultural epochs.’ – Michaela Strauss

Shows the ways in which self-portraits and other pictures drawn by youngsters reflect their personality traits, cognitive development, Emotional Stability, And Family Background.

First Published in 1988. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The use of drawings to discover emotions, attitudes, and personality traits not verbally stated by a client is a valuable and widely used technique in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. In this book, the author offers a highly practical introduction to the use and interpretation of projective drawings. Grounding his approach in self psychology, Dr. Leibowitz provides detailed information on how to interpret house, tree, man, woman, and animal drawings. By pairing clinical case examples with general interpretation guidelines, the book offers a thorough examination of projective drawings, making it a valuable text for beginners and an important reference source for the seasoned clinician. Interpreting Projective Drawings contains an impressive array of drawings, with over 175 total illustrations. Almost half of these drawings are from comprehensive case studies that follow adult patients from the beginning phase of treatment to their one-year (or more) status. These include over 30 chromatic illustrations that clearly demonstrate the importance of color in projective drawing interpretation. In addition to detailed information on how to interpret these five types of achromatic and chromatic drawings, the book also contains an appendix that offers examiner instructions, instructions for self-administration, and adjective lists to aid in interpretation. Together, these components make Interpreting Projective Drawings an essential resource for any mental health professional interested in using drawings to their fullest effect in their practice.

Clarion Review: ****The analytical psychology of Carl Gustav Jung, the ideas of Erich Neumann and modern developmental psychology offer excellent guidelines in the search for the significance of children's drawings. Children actually live in the mythological period of our ancestors. Just as our ancestors' growing process of awareness was reflected in mythological stories, rituals, fairy tales and primitive art, a child's process of awareness is reflected in his or her drawings. There are similarities between the products from various periods of art history and the drawings that children make at various ages. In 'Draw me a Picture' children's drawings ranging from their very first scribbles to drawings by adolescents are described and analyzed. And, when doing so, the author repeatedly makes links to the world of children's games. She also offers illustrative examples from her therapeutic practice. This book is a tool for play therapists, art therapists, sandplay therapists and teachers.

"Making Sense of Children's Drawings is enlivened with the real drawings of seven young children collected over three years. These drawings stimulated dialogues with the children, parents and practitioners whose voices are reported in the book. The book makes an argument for us to rethink radically the role of drawing in young children's construction of meaning, communication and sense of identity. It provides insights into the influence of media and consumerism, as reflected in popular visual imagery, and on gender identity formation in young children. It also offers strong messages about the overemphasis on the three Rs in early childhood education.".

This practical resource demonstrates how all clinicians can broaden and enhance their work with children by integrating drawing into therapy. The book enables therapists to address the multidimensional aspects of children's art without resorting to simplistic explanations. Approaching drawing as a springboard for communication and change, Malchiodi offers a wealth of guidelines for understanding the intricate messages embedded in children's drawings and in the art-making process itself. Topics covered include how to assist children in making art, what questions to ask and when, and how to motivate children who are initially resistant to drawing. Assimilating extensive research and clinical experience, the book includes over 100 examples of children's work.