child drawings

[lovbnmom]

Our daughter made some drawings in her journal of her killing other children.  When we asked her about them she said she was angry with them.  They weren't graphic pictures, they were stick figures.  She is 9 yrs old and in the 3rd grade honors program.  She is never in trouble, has many friends, and her grades are fantastic.  She has great family support, she is not an anrgy child and rarely in trouble.  The trouble she gets in are normal child issues (not cleaning her room etc).  There is no abuse physical or emotioanl and has high self esteem and confidence.  Should we be worried?  This is the 1st time she has ever drawn pictures like this.

[waitingwithhope]

Oops, I missed the part in your comment where you said she was doing this in her journal (I must of missed that when I suggested you to get her a child-friendly journal). Nevertheless, I still would encourage her to keep a journal of some sort, it really is a healthy way for her to express her thoughts.

[waitingwithhope]

I probably would not be worried with one drawing as you have addressed this with her...she probably was just angry and upset and needed an outlet for it and drawing was how she got the anger out of her system. I would continue to have conversations with her about her emotions and role play how she can react to possible future situations that involve bullying or friendship building. I would introduce a place for her to write down her thoughts such as a  child-friendly journal where she can both draw and write down what she is feeling inside.

[davo272003]

Hi lovebnmom,

It's horrible the first time you see your kids expressing those kind of feelings. I have seen it in my children growing up and always wondered "Am I raising a future psychopath?" I would think that what your daughter did is very common, but can understand why you would want to see her drawing less angry pictures. As you say this is the first time she has drawn such pictures, I wouldn't make too big an issue out of it, although you may want to just check that she is not being overly exposed to too much sensitive media at her age. The papers, news and even alot of seeming harmless kids shows like the simpsons, etc often portray justice as being some sort of ultimate revenge. Maybe your daughter thought it up without these sorts of outside infuences, but then again, I think you would know best if that is what is occuring.

David

[lovbnmom]

of course we asked.  she was upset with those people at the time she drew the pictures.  we encourage her to talk more about her feelings and for evey bad feeling she draws about i told her we can drwa 2 good ones hse had that day.  i am going to try to get her to focus on the positives and not the negatives as much.  she doesnt physically hurt anyone she just yells if she gets frustrated.  

[anxiousmomtobe?]

Maybe she is being picked on and feels helpless?

[RockRose]

Did you ask her what she was so angry about?