Abstract:

Due to developmental features, among the most effective ways of obtaining information in studies conducted with preschool children is via pictures, games and stories. According to the literature, it is also important to use children’s pictures instead of verbal expressions in studies like interviews, diagnosis and support. Picture is an ideal and projective technique to explore the inner world of children and also is a great tool for children who have limited vocabulary to interact with the outer world as it is an easy expression tool. Additionally, children’s pictures have the power of revealing the feelings of social support and attachment within the family, changes in their perceptions of belonging to the family over time, and the communication within the family and the development of relationships.  Based on this idea, the present study aimed to evaluate family pictures of 60-71 months-old children whose parents are divorced, in terms of their attachment status. The research was carried out within the scope of the phenomenological pattern, which is one of the qualitative research patterns. The study group consisted of 60-71 months-old 11 children attending independent kindergartens and pre-school section of elementary schools that were both affiliated with the Ministry of Education in the Isparta Province of Turkey during the 2019-2020 academic year. Data collection tools used in the research were children's family pictures. The data obtained was analyzed and interpreted using the descriptive analysis method. In this research, it is seen that, in general, children do not draw the mother as a subject first in the picture, and their mothers' limbs are not fully drawn, their mother's individual characteristics are not reflected in the picture and they draw their mothers sloppy. Half of the children did not draw either themselves or their mothers. A happy atmosphere was not observed in most of the paintings.

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