Floorplans and cartoon strips--diagnostic techniques in working with children

Area of Science:

• Child psychology
• Therapeutic art techniques
• Developmental assessment

Background:

• Assessing and treating children aged 7-15 requires tailored, engaging methods.
• Traditional verbal assessments may not capture the full picture for all children.

Observation:

• Children aged 7-15 were assessed using two distinct creative techniques.
• The techniques involved drawing a home floorplan and constructing a comic strip.

Findings:

• Floorplan drawings offer insights into task approach, home activities, sleeping arrangements, and significant relationships.
• Comic strip creation effectively reveals core conflicts and builds rapport, especially for verbally inhibited children.

Implications:

• These creative techniques provide valuable, non-verbal avenues for understanding children's psychological states.
• Floorplans and comic strips can enhance therapeutic rapport and diagnostic accuracy in pediatric populations.