Benefits of the Draw a Person Test in Occupational Therapy
The Draw a Person Test is more than just an activity; it is a valuable tool for gaining insight into a child’s developmental, cognitive, and motor skills. By asking a child to draw a person, therapists, educators, and parents can observe the intricate connection between motor coordination, body awareness, and cognitive processing. Originally designed to assess intellectual development, this test now serves a broader purpose, particularly in occupational therapy, where it aids in identifying developmental delays, motor challenges, and visual-spatial difficulties. Need to practice drawing a person? Check out this free draw a person printable and fun song!
WHAT IS THE DRAW A PERSON TEST?
The Draw a Person Test (DAP) was developed by Dr. Florence Goodenough in 1926 as a nonverbal measure of intellectual ability. Over the years, it has evolved into a tool used not only for assessing cognitive development but also for understanding emotional and social functioning. Children are asked to draw a person. The level of detail, proportion, and spatial arrangement in the drawing are then analyzed.
While the Draw a Person Test is not a definitive measure of intelligence, it provides a glimpse into a child’s developmental progress. It’s especially effective as a screening tool for children aged 5 to 11 years when combined with clinical observations and other assessments.
Move Find and Color
DETAILS ABOUT THE DRAW A PERSON TEST
The Goodenough Draw a Person Test is a projective tool that provides insight into a child’s cognitive, motor, and visual-spatial skills through their depiction of a human figure. Below is a summary of how the test is administered and scored:
Directions and Administration
Children are asked to “make a picture of a person” and to create the best drawing they can without a time limit. While typically completed in about 10 minutes, the test encourages children to work carefully and thoughtfully. It is primarily a screening device, most effective for children aged 5 to 11 years. It is not suitable for older children with advanced drawing skills or those who have taken art lessons, as this may invalidate the evaluation of their intellectual potential.
Scoring Categories
The scoring system evaluates specific details in the drawing, categorized as follows:
- Class A (Preliminary Stage):
- Drawings that cannot be recognized as human figures, such as uncontrolled scribbles or crude geometric shapes, score between 0 and 1 point.
- Class B (Recognizable Figures):
- Drawings that attempt to represent a human figure are scored based on detailed criteria. Points are awarded for accuracy and completeness, including features such as head, trunk, arms, legs, and fine details.
Key Scoring Components of the Draw a Person Test
Scoring emphasizes various aspects of the drawing:
- Gross Detail: Inclusion of head, arms, legs, and trunk; proportions like trunk length exceeding its breadth.
- Attachments: Proper connections of limbs to the trunk and a continuous neck outline.
- Head Detail: Features like eyes, nose, mouth, nostrils, and hair are assessed for clarity and detail.
- Clothing: Points are awarded for clothing representation, ranging from a single article to a complete outfit with multiple elements (e.g., hat, shoes, coat).
- Hand and Finger Detail: Evaluation of fingers’ presence, correct number, and dimensions.
- Proportions: Proper size relationships between the head, trunk, arms, and legs.
- Motor Coordination: Firmness and accuracy of lines without gaps or overlaps.
- Fine Details: Symmetry, accurate ear placement, detailed eye features, and profile accuracy.
Mental Age Equivalents
The scoring system includes a table correlating total scores with mental age equivalents. For example: a score of 10 equates to a mental age of 5 years and 6 months or a score of 40 corresponds to a mental age of 13 years.
Limitations
The test is not recommended for:
- Bright children over the age of 12 due to ceiling effects.
- Older children with significant drawing experience, as their artistic skills may not accurately reflect cognitive ability.
By analyzing these detailed criteria, the Draw a Person Test serves as a window into a child’s development, helping therapists, educators, and parents assess and support individual needs. It is important to note that this test should be administered and interpreted by trained professionals to ensure accuracy and appropriate application of its findings.
Drawing and Writing Data Collection Forms
WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY ABOUT THIS TEST?
Studies indicate that the Draw a Person Test offers valuable insights but should not be used in isolation. Research shows that it correlates with measures of intelligence in young children, although its validity decreases with older or highly skilled individuals. For example, the Goodenough-Harris revision highlights how increasing detail in a child’s drawing reflects cognitive maturity, but researchers caution against over-reliance on the test as a sole indicator of intellectual ability.
Recent studies emphasize its usefulness in occupational therapy and education as a supplementary tool to understand motor coordination, body awareness, and visual-spatial skills. It’s particularly valuable for assessing children with developmental delays or challenges related to fine motor skills.
WHY IS THE DRAW A PERSON TEST BENEFICIAL FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSESSMENTS?
The Draw a Person Test is a practical, cost-effective tool that offers several benefits for occupational therapists:
- Evaluating motor skills: The ability to control a pencil and create intentional shapes reflects fine motor development.
- Understanding body awareness: The inclusion (or omission) of body parts provides insight into the child’s concept of their own body.
- Assessing visual-spatial skills: The test highlights how children perceive and organize spatial relationships.
- Screening for delays: It offers a quick, engaging way to identify areas where a child may need additional support.
In occupational therapy, this test complements clinical observations to build a well-rounded picture of the child’s developmental needs.
CLINICAL OBSERVATION DURING THE DRAW A PERSON TEST
While children complete the Draw a Person Test, therapists should observe and note the following:
- Posture: Does the child maintain a stable seated position?
- Pencil grip: Is the grip functional, or does it hinder movement?
- Speed: Is the drawing rushed or overly slow?
- Body awareness: Are all major body parts included and proportionate?
- Visual-motor integration: How well does the child coordinate their hand movements with their visual perception?
- Symmetry and precision: Are lines intentional, or do they appear irregular or uncoordinated?
These observations provide rich qualitative data, allowing therapists to tailor their interventions to address specific developmental challenges.
ACTIVITIES TO ENCOURAGE BODY AWARENESS
Body awareness is essential for drawing, motor skills, and overall coordination. Here are 10 engaging activities to support this foundational skill:
- Yoga poses for kids.
- Playing “Simon Says” with body-part commands.
- Drawing life-sized outlines of their own bodies.
- Balance games, such as standing on one foot.
- Using mirrors for movement imitation.
- Creating obstacle courses with climbing and crawling.
- Hula hoop activities.
- Jumping and landing on designated spots.
- Singing songs with body-part movements, like “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.”
- Heavy work activities
For even more ideas, check out this list of Body Awareness Activities.
ACTIVITIES TO PRACTICE DRAWING A PERSON
Practicing drawing people can help children refine their motor coordination, visual-spatial skills, and creativity. Here are 10 fun and engaging activities:
- Coloring Pages: Use printable templates of people for children to trace and color. Try yoga coloring pages or creative drawing for kids to fill in the body parts.
- Step-by-Step Guides: Provide step-by-step instructions for drawing basic human figures.
- Stick Figure Practice: Start with simple stick figures before adding more detail.
- Draw Along: Draw a person together, with the child copying your steps.
- Mirror Drawing: Let the child draw their reflection in a mirror.
- Themed Drawings: Have children draw people in costumes or seasonal attire.
- Body Part Focus: Practice drawing specific body parts, like hands or faces, in detail. Use these body part bingo flashcards.
- Group Portraits: Encourage children to draw multiple people interacting.
- Draw with a Story: Ask children to draw a person based on a story or character description.
- Freeform Drawing: Allow creative freedom to draw a person any way they like.
These activities not only develop drawing skills but also boost confidence and engagement.
MORE RESOURCES ABOUT DRAWING
If you’re interested in exploring more about drawing and its developmental implications, check out these resources:
The Draw a Person Test is a versatile tool that blends creativity with developmental observation. For occupational therapists, special educators, and parents, it offers valuable insights into a child’s progress, guiding interventions and fostering growth.
References
El-Shafie, A. M., ElLahony, D. M., Biram, K. M., & Samir, M. A. (2019). Screening intelligence of primary school children using draw-a-person test. Menoufia Medical Journal, 32(1), 317-322.
Troncone, A., Chianese, A., Di Leva, A., Grasso, M., & Cascella, C. (2021). Validity of the draw a person: a quantitative scoring system (DAP: QSS) for clinically evaluating intelligence. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 52, 728-738.
