Kinetic Family Drawing

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Scoring Guide

This is not the complete scoring manual used for Kinetic Family Drawing: To obtain a quick-scoring guide see additional information.

• HOUSE WITHOUT DOORS: child is insecure.  
• COLORS: If a child who has previously used and enjoyed color in his/her artwork exhibits a sudden and extended rejection of color in favor of black or gray, she may be in a state of denial or apathy.
• LINES & SCRIBBLES: If a child scribbles over a drawing, she may be trying to erase her drawing or make it invisible. If the scribbles were done while a parent or other adult was speaking with the child, it can indicate that the conversation was somehow painful to the child
• FEETLESS: If the drawings of the child are feet-less, It usually means the child is insecure. But if you find the child’s character floating in the air. It means that character has importance
• EARS: Exceptionally large ears, unadorned by earrings, can indicate verbal abuse. Sometimes the child will draw lines leading to the ears, to demonstrate the abusive tone she/he frequently encounters.
• MOUTH: An anxious, uncomfortable child may represent the mouth with a long slit. On the other hand, if the child does not draw a mouth at all, it may be a sign of his inability to communicate.
• EYES: When a child draws “empty” eyes, it may mean that she has difficulty relating to the reality around her. In a sense, the child is blind to reality.
• TEETH JAGGERED: Jagged teeth frequently indicate a tendency toward aggressive behavior, especially when coupled with other serrated graphic symbols such as spiked fingers, feet, ears, and hair.
• SHADING: Covering the area by shading could indicate a preoccupation or anxiety with those parts
• ENLARGEMENT OF BODY PARTS: This suggest a preoccupation with those particular parts.
• OMISSION OF BODY PARTS: This could indicate denial of the function of that organ.
• FACIAL EXPRESSIONS: Indicates emotions.
• CROSS HATCHING: This is a form of shading that is believed to indicate control.
• PRECISE DRAWING: Indicates that child's need or concern for a structured environment.
• PHYSICAL PROXIMITY: isolation/rejection vs. support/acceptance.
• FIELDS OF FORCE: Balls- jealousy/rivalry Fire- anger/ hostility
• PENCIL ERASURES: ambivalence/conflict or compulsiveness;insecurity
• ARM EXTENSIONS: need to control the environment;insecurity
• COMPARTMENTALISM OF FIGURES: one or more straight lines used to separate one or more figures: inhibition of strong emotions, isolation, inability to communicate openly.
• UNDERLINING OF INDIVIDUAL FIGURES: unstable relationship with the underlined figure, possible need for structure.
• EDGED PLACEMENT OF FIGURES: Figures are placed near the edges of the paper could indciate resistance, highly defensive child.
• LINE QUALITY: Light/broken/uneven- insecure, fear Heavy/Overworked- anxiety, aggression
• LINING AT TOP OF PAPER: acute anxiety
• LINING AT BOTTOM OF PAPER: provides a strong goundation for child who feels that stress and instability permeate his family.