Problem-solving expressions in preschool children's “Person Picking an Apple from a Tree” drawings and verbal narratives

The present mixed-methods study examined associations between children's visual and verbal problem-solving expressions in their “Person Picking an Apple from a Tree” drawings and narratives. We rated 65 drawings of Israeli pre-school children (ages 5-6.5) for their problem-solving expressions and analyzed their stories about their drawings. A quantitative assessment of the drawings was made using three reliable rating scales that measure the way a child draws the apple-picking. Children's stories were analyzed using a qualitative method and coded into categories according to grounded theory. Children's executive functions were measured using teachers’ reports. Results show that in terms of the success aspect of the picking process, in most of the cases a discrepancy was found between the story and the drawing. In addition, associations were found between the children's executive functions and two aspects in their verbal stories. The results are examined through a developmental lens; research limitations and recommendations for future research are presented.