A Developmental Analysis of 5-7 Year-Old Children's Human Figure Drawings

Abstract

Article History: Received 29.12.2013 Received in revised form 01.07.2014 Accepted 05.07.2014 Available online 10.08.2014 This study aims to analyze the development of 5-7 year-old children's human figure drawings in relation to their age. The study is of a descriptive nature and takes as its study group 240 randomly selected children attending independent kindergartens, the preschool year of elementary schools and grade 1 in schools located in central Ankara. There were 40 girls and 40 boys in each group. An agerelated analysis of the drawings created by using Koppitz’s Human Figure Development method showed a statistically meaningful development in all body parts drawn by 5-7 year-old children, other than heads and nostrils. In body part drawings, all body parts other than elbows and number of fingers developed meaningfully with age. All leg parts other than knees, profile, good proportion and clothing consisting of four or more pieces also developed meaningfully with age. The difference between children aged 5-6 years was not statistically meaningful, while the differences between those aged 5-7 and 6-7 were. Overall, 5-year-olds displayed 51,3% of the expected criteria in Koppitz’s Human Figure Development, while 6-year-olds displayed 60% and 7-year-olds displayed 65%. © 2014 IOJES. All rights reserved