Is this normal writing?

[sanders]

I used this website about 4 yrs ago and you help me sooo
much with my daughter that had issues with wearing certain clothing, you suggested the book SOS for parents, and it turned our life around. She is 7 now and a well rounded young girl, the teacher at school wants to test her for the gifted classes.
Her teacher called me about a piece of paper she drew at school, on this paper was a hand that she drew with the finger nails crossed out, and at the bottom of the hand was the wording
"Dead _____"  her name was the blank.  The teacher was concerned about her, she is a insecure child , and needs self assuring from time to time but she agreed with me it was so out of character for her.  I asked her the reason she wrote that on her drawing and she said she did not like the way she was drawing the finger nails on the hand and crossed them out. I asked her why she wrote the word dead, she said she messed up on the paper and she wanted it to be gone. I wonder if this is something to worry about that she or we are to hard on her, I didn't think so,or the self confidence issue, or if this is a normal 7 yr. old
writing or learning about the world.  I know there can be a lot to see into a child's drawing and writing.  The teacher thought this could be a concern, DO YOU?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

It's important not to overly 'psychologize' one particular episode in a child's life. Having said that, I do think the drawing merits concern. The particulars of the drawing itself, specifically the crossed-out fingernails, is really not much of an issue with the exception that it may represent an overly perfectionistic inclination in your daughter. Her standards may be so high that they are difficult for her to achieve, thus leading to frequent self-criticism. Relative to the notation Dead (Name), I'd talk with her further about how that came to be. For example, was it part of the drawing plan from the outset, was it inserted out of frustration when she wasn't successful drawing the fingers, etc. Be carefult to ask her open-ended questions, such as: Would you tell me how the words happened to be part of the picture? How did it come about that you decided on those words? If you discern a pattern of self-criticism and negative self-attributions, you may want to consider arranging a mental health evaluation. Re: the benefit you achieved from Lynn Clark's book, that's encouraging to hear. Many parents find the same things, and I'm always pleased to recommend it.

[sanders]

Thank you everyone for getting back to me so soon on the issue.  My daughter never  had anything besides talking to much in kindergarden from a teacher before in school, now I am really concerned about this writing from a child's point of view, The teachers has told me before that she lacks self confidence, but on the other hand she's reading at a level 4th grade, I don't understand.

[sanders]

I just wanted to add that when I did ask her about the wording she did not know why she put dead there, she only knew that she did not like the finger nails she drew.  I thought she said she wantwd it gone, put that's how I worded it, she did not say.

[lmroswell]

Children can be picky drawers.  I think it makes sense.  Your daughter did not like the fingernails she drew, so she crossed them out.  If I were to think like a child would, 'dead' would mean to go away.  I don't think she really knows and understands exactly what she wrote, other than the fact that the picture was not of her liking and she wanted it to go away.  Oh, to see the world through a child's eye again...I don't think there is anything to worry about.

[SMAGNOLIA]

I wouldn't worry so much.  It sounds like you believe your daughter is very well rounded and when you talked with her about it she didn't seem angry or anything about it....try not to read into things too much...did her teacher say anything about her behavior being aggressive or morbid or anything?