Emotional communication: Tracing aspects of self-expression in paintings of preschoolers

Abstract

Present research focuses on the ability of Greek preschool education children to be self-expressed through spontaneous painting in a subject of their free choice communicating their emotions. The method of this research based on painting analysis which focus on content, size, use of paper and colors that were chosen by the children. Moreover, factors as gender and socio-financial status of participated children was correlated with their capability to express themselves. The observation and data analysis of colors that kids selected, the forms that they painted; and the dimensions of their painting provided important information for their ability to express their emotions. The most of preschoolers expressed their emotions making colorful images in an effort to represent their familiar persons with images revealing their relationships with their parents and siblings. The ability of children self-expression is a part from their creativity, mental and emotional communication which they construct interactively their social relationships among them and other children; and their teachers and parents in an initiative level. As research concluded painting helps children to express spontaneously their real positive and negative emotions, thoughts and feelings.