ABSTRACT
The use of Human Figure Drawings (HFDs) in psychological assessment with children is common and has a long, rich, if somewhat controversial history (Riethmiller & Handler, 1997). However, regardless of one’s position of interpreting HFDs from a psychological perspective, most would agree that drawing is a natural medium to use with young children and those in middle childhood. For these children, drawing is a part of their general repertoire in their everyday world. They are often asked in elementary school to illustrate stories they have written and produce art with human figures and background. Hence, children are less resistant or surprised when asked to produce and talk about their drawings than, say, adolescents or adults. Thus, HFDs have the potential to tell us much about children’s perceptions of their lives and concerns, if we have the template to approach them.
