I have a 10-year-old student who consistently draws pictures of people behind bars. What might this represent and what should I do with this information?
2007-12-10 09:07:46 · 34 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Special Education
he wants to be a policeman?
2007-12-10 09:10:38 · answer #1 · answered by angelica 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Maybe they have a family member in jail right now. I know several kids who deal with parents in jail. It may be their way of dealing with whoever is missing in their life. The only thing I think you might do with the info is ask them do they know who are the people behind the bars. (Privately) They may or may not want to talk about it. For a 10 year old, having a loved one in jail can be very embarassing. Everyday they see kids getting picked up by parents and their lives seem to be so much worse than other kids. It's a tough and delicate situation. I was raising my granddaughter while my daughter was doing drugs and going in and out of jail. I saw how painful it was for her. I appreciated that her teacher that year took a special interest in her and gave her extra attention. The teacher was patient and understanding that sometimes it was more difficult for my granddaughter to focus on class because of things going on in her life that were out of her control. One thing I learned during the ordeal is that a 10 year old can be more mature and forgiving than we can imagine. So if you see an opportunity just ask them does their picture represent anyone in particular. It could be that this kid just wants to be a cop someday. Don't just assume the worst.
2007-12-10 09:25:19 · answer #2 · answered by Debbie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With kids it could be anything. Maybe he has feelings of being trapped or punished, or has unresolved anger towards certain individuals in his life? Try talking to him about his pictures and what he feels when he is drawing them; if you get him talking about his emotions, you might find out the reason.
It could also be as innocent as having seen a TV program, video game, comic, or read a book about imprisonment, but it would be better to talk to him and make sure something more serious isn't going on.
2007-12-10 12:44:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a thirteen year old I can say two things. One, He could have some serious issues, or Two and more likely, you should be happy for him. sometimes we draw things that we need to express but don't know how. Maybe he has someone he knows in jail. maybe he feels like he's in a cell himself. thats how i feel when i dont get enough freedom, like im trapped in a little jail cell. ask him about it, but don't make it a big deal, just act like you would ask a good friend of yours. if he shakes you off, dont keep bugging him. make him feel like he can talk to you, and DO NOT call his parents if he A doesnt want you to or B doesn't seem to get worse. maybe he's just really artistic and you could be ruining a million dollar child ;)
2007-12-10 09:16:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Our School Dist. has Counselors who will go to a specific school for a specific child w/parental consent. Your the teacher....I'm a counselor...Someone in her family (probably Dad) is in jail and she/ he is stresses over it. Perhaps even more family members have been through the Justice System.I would talk to the child, tell her/him you like the art work...ask to explain the picture (carefully..and don't push).
If you find I am right..call the person who has custody tell them what you're feeling..and maybe counseling would help. You must be very cautious with this also, it's usually a child that feels alone,and has no one to talk to whom expresses their stresses in art. You could also, follow her/his art to see what else comes up.It could be she/he just has security bars on home windows.Use common sense/proceed w/caution, BUT, don't let go till you know!
2007-12-10 09:22:39 · answer #5 · answered by Carol (Yeah I said it!) G. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
of course it represents his feelings of being locked in, held back, repressed. Ask him if he would like to talk about what is holding him or keeping him prisoner, and what would he draw if he wanted the person to be on the outside looking in, rather than the inside looking out... then to try drawing that. Then a discussion comparing them.
2007-12-10 09:12:45 · answer #6 · answered by dragonlady 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. MIght feel trapped
2. Might have parents/relitives/friends in jail
3. Enjoys just drawing stuff like that
4. Hes a weird little boy.
2007-12-10 12:44:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something they saw on TV maybe or a close family member might be in jail & it's there way of thinking about them...Ask who the people are? When you find out who these people are, work on drawing them somewhere other than jail.
2007-12-10 09:10:34 · answer #8 · answered by char__c is a good cooker 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
maybe they have a relative in jail
or they might possibly feel like they are being suppressed.
make sure you give your students opportunity enough to share their opinion, and give them little freedoms.
there is also the possibility that the child wants to be a cop when they grow older, maybe?
make sure you tell the child's parents.
and talk to the kid as well... ask questions, like what they want to be when they grow up, do they play at home, ect;
and ask the parents if they listen to him as much as they should be doing.
2007-12-10 09:13:13 · answer #9 · answered by Kenna Coconut™ Actorasauress Rex 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe he has a family member in jail, or he thinks everyone belongs behind bars OR maybe theres chold abuse at home where he is contained in some ways? I would just watch him and maybe even just ask him. Hes your student.
2007-12-10 09:11:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
this student of yours is probably just intrested in those kinds of things. He might have had a family member in bars or maybe he feels like he is locked up in your class room maybe you should do fun thing and things where students feel more free
2007-12-10 09:12:29 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋