Abstract
Background: Everyone has the “freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas” “regardless of frontiers” (United Nations, 1948); however, young children are rarely provided the opportunity to impart information about their lives.
Aim: To determine how children from across the world draw themselves talking and apply interdisciplinary analyses to illuminate children’s perspectives.
Method: Participants were 200 children from 24 countries who submitted a drawing and explanation using an adaptation of the Sound Effects Study Drawing Protocol. Drawings were included in the free Children Draw Talking Global Online Gallery. Participants reported they spoke 23 languages (range 1-4). The majority of participants (79%) reported they felt happy about talking and 28.5% of caregivers reported they had concerns about their children’s talking. A 16-member interdisciplinary research team analysed the drawings using the following analysis frameworks: descriptive, developmental, focal point, meaning making, and systemic functional linguistics transitivity.
Results: A strong positive correlation was observed between the participants’ age and their ability to draw a human figure. Most children (84.5%) drew themselves talking to at least one conversational partner including: friends (22%), mothers (16%), fathers (14%), animals (9%), siblings (9%), other family (5%), teachers (3%), and speech pathologists (1%). Focal points included: body parts (head, mouth, eyes) and facial expressions (30.2%); talking and listening (e.g., words, speech bubbles, open mouths) (53.3%); proximity to others (49.1%); relationships and connections (89.3%), and positivity and vibrancy (72.8%). The Meaning Making Analysis using cultural-historical concepts identified ten themes: relationships, places, actions, natural elements, human-made elements, cultural experiences, logical thinking, emotion, imagination, and concepts. The Systemic Functional Linguistics Transitivity Analysis explored 50 drawings with a total of 71 processes, 134 participants, and 48 circumstances.
Conclusion: Children possess the capability to convey complex thoughts through drawing. These insights can inform speech pathologists during their assessment of children's speech and language.
Key messages
At the conclusion of my presentation, attendees will take away
Key message 1: Children can convey complex thoughts through drawing, and these can be analysed using interdisciplinary approaches.
Key message 2: The use of participatory methods such as draw and tell enable children’s perspectives to be elicited.
Key message 3: Adults should use caution so they do not misinterpret children’s meanings through their drawings.
Aim: To determine how children from across the world draw themselves talking and apply interdisciplinary analyses to illuminate children’s perspectives.
Method: Participants were 200 children from 24 countries who submitted a drawing and explanation using an adaptation of the Sound Effects Study Drawing Protocol. Drawings were included in the free Children Draw Talking Global Online Gallery. Participants reported they spoke 23 languages (range 1-4). The majority of participants (79%) reported they felt happy about talking and 28.5% of caregivers reported they had concerns about their children’s talking. A 16-member interdisciplinary research team analysed the drawings using the following analysis frameworks: descriptive, developmental, focal point, meaning making, and systemic functional linguistics transitivity.
Results: A strong positive correlation was observed between the participants’ age and their ability to draw a human figure. Most children (84.5%) drew themselves talking to at least one conversational partner including: friends (22%), mothers (16%), fathers (14%), animals (9%), siblings (9%), other family (5%), teachers (3%), and speech pathologists (1%). Focal points included: body parts (head, mouth, eyes) and facial expressions (30.2%); talking and listening (e.g., words, speech bubbles, open mouths) (53.3%); proximity to others (49.1%); relationships and connections (89.3%), and positivity and vibrancy (72.8%). The Meaning Making Analysis using cultural-historical concepts identified ten themes: relationships, places, actions, natural elements, human-made elements, cultural experiences, logical thinking, emotion, imagination, and concepts. The Systemic Functional Linguistics Transitivity Analysis explored 50 drawings with a total of 71 processes, 134 participants, and 48 circumstances.
Conclusion: Children possess the capability to convey complex thoughts through drawing. These insights can inform speech pathologists during their assessment of children's speech and language.
Key messages
At the conclusion of my presentation, attendees will take away
Key message 1: Children can convey complex thoughts through drawing, and these can be analysed using interdisciplinary approaches.
Key message 2: The use of participatory methods such as draw and tell enable children’s perspectives to be elicited.
Key message 3: Adults should use caution so they do not misinterpret children’s meanings through their drawings.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - May 2024 |
| Event | Speech Pathology Australia National Conference 2024 - Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Perth, Australia Duration: 27 May 2024 → 29 May 2024 https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/Public/CPD-events/SPA-conference/Home.aspx (Conference website) https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Public/CPD-events/SPA-conference/2024/Program.aspx (Program with abstract links) |
Conference
| Conference | Speech Pathology Australia National Conference 2024 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | Communicating for Life |
| Country/Territory | Australia |
| City | Perth |
| Period | 27/05/24 → 29/05/24 |
| Other | The annual Speech Pathology Australia Conference is the profession's premier event to advance knowledge, education and community in the speech pathology profession. In different locations across Australia each year the conference is held over three days and delivers a wide range of informative and relevant sessions designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of all speech pathologists. Aligned with Speech Pathology Australia's goal to promote excellence and innovation in the profession, the conference supports the Association's mission of effective communication and swallowing for Australians for life. |
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