My 6-year old son is a great artist and loves to draw. Right now he is "into" anything scary. Mummies, skeletons, zombies, monsters, dinosaurs, aliens. He does watch T.V. but I don't think I allow too much or anything inappropriate for his age. The "scariest" show that he has seen is Scooby Doo and he LOVES it. He draws and talks about "Killing the bad aliens" and such, never about killing people. Nothing is too graphic, but the faces on his monsters are unbelievable. Fangs and bulging eyes and bloody skeletons... His friends at school are also into this stuff but I worry that my son is the ring-leader, he's very popular. He'll draw these pictures for his friends at school and I'm worried the parents won't approve. Is this normal behavior or should I be worried? He does also draw nice things when he's in the mood and is already reading simple books. Right now I'm reading the Spiderwick Chronicles to him. He wants to see Star Wars but I've told him not until he's nine (friends at school have seen it and he brings Star Wars illustrated dictionaries home from the school library). Should I take him to see Spiderwick Chronicles?
My nephew is the same way...been drawing aliens and such since he was 4. I think its very normal, especially for kids who express themselve thru art. I would not encourage any visualization of scary stuff tho (ie Spiderwick) as it may cause his active imagination to be overwhelmed (my nephew has horrible dreams when he sees anything scary like that).
I don't find this alarming. I think this is very normal. Ok, I only have a toddler right now and he's obviously not drawing much of anything :) but it doesn't sound bad. I think it sounds like a very typical boy thing to do.
My son (now 12) also used to draw the same stuff. He has since moved on to drawing anything video game related...
I also remember pretty much all the boys in my own 3rd grade class when I was growing up, used to draw bombers, monsters, and all sorts of scary stuff. I wasn't allowed to watch anything remotely scary so I remember their pictures used to fascinate me. :)
I have an 8 year old little GIRL who loves anything scary! My other half lets her watch Zombie movies with him (to my dislike) and if anything gets out of hand he turns it off. We make sure that she knows that it’s not real only "movie magic". She has never had a nightmare because of the movies but if she did then I would not let her see them. She has loved scary things since she was about 4 or so. I think its normal...my girl is loving and sweet even good in school I couldn’t ask for a better kid, so I figure if that is the way her imagination takes her then so be it. Now if he was expressing anger towards people in his drawings then that may be cause for concern other then that he is fine! Don't keep him from seeing a G rated movie (I think its G :0) If he wants to see it take him, just make sure he understands that its fantasy not reality. You might consider talking to him regarding other children...letting him know that other kids might be afraid of some of the things he thinks are cool so he can use discretion with them. You never know maybe our kids will grow up to be the people who make all the scary stuff for movies or productions! :0) Just love, watch, and listen to him .... I think it’s wonderful that they are using there imaginations! If you embrace his interests I would suggest “Goosebumps” the series and the books Hannah just LOVES THEM!
Peace~Love~Light
V.
Congrats at having 4 lovely kids
and a talented artist amoung them!
This is completely normal, and it's NOTHING to worry about.
Do assure the other Moms of this if any of them ever have concerns.
BTW it may be more acceptable for boys - but that's just prejudice - little girls can love this stuff too!
If the drawings were very disturbing, all blood and guts and violence against people, with no enjoyment or humour...
If they are accompanied by disturbed behaviour, child is withdrawn, angry, and doing little else but drawing - THEN you might need a psychologist to see them.
You are doing great. Keep it up!
sounds like a "true boy" to me. i'm more so interested in his drawing abilities. those should be cultivated.
