How do I use drawing to help my child show what happened? 

Parenting Perspective 

When children struggle to explain what has happened, whether it is a conflict, a worry, or a confusing event, words can feel inadequate or overwhelming. Drawing can offer a gentle bridge between their silence and speech, allowing them to express what is inside without the pressure of forming perfect sentences. For many children, the hand knows what the mouth cannot yet say. When a parent invites their child to draw with patience and curiosity, they open a path for healing, understanding, and emotional release. 

Why Drawing Can Help 

Drawing has a way of slowing down our emotions and giving shape to experiences that feel too big to handle. It can move a child from a state of reactive feeling to one of reflective thinking. When they draw, they regain a sense of control over their narrative, choosing the colours, the shapes, and what to include or leave out. As a parent, your role is not to analyse the artwork but simply to hold space for it. You are not an art critic or a detective; you are a witness to their expression. 

Inviting Expression Without Instruction 

It is best to begin by offering drawing materials with a calm and gentle tone. You might say: 

‘Would it help to draw what happened?’ or ‘Sometimes it is easier to draw than to talk. Would you like to try?’ 

It is important to avoid forcing the activity or asking for a specific image. A sense of freedom is what creates emotional safety. Even if they only scribble or draw something that seems unrelated, that is perfectly fine; it is still a form of expression. 

Observing the Process with Gentle Curiosity 

While your child is drawing, pay attention to their focus, their energy, and their body language. Are their lines sharp or soft? Do they seem relaxed or tense? These subtle cues can often speak more loudly than the drawing itself. You could quietly observe, ‘I see you are using a lot of red in your picture. It looks like there were some big feelings today.’ This validates the emotion without attempting to interpret the art literally. 

Using the Drawing as a Bridge to Words 

When your child begins to describe what they have drawn, listen without interrupting. You can reflect back what you hear: ‘That sounds like it felt really confusing,’ or ‘So this part of the picture shows when things got scary?’ This simple reflection helps your child to organise their experience, turning a visual expression into a deeper emotional awareness. When they have finished, you can thank them sincerely: ‘Thank you for sharing that with me. Your drawing has helped me to understand better.’ 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam recognises the power of expression, not just through words, but through calm and creativity. The acts of reflecting, processing, and finding meaning in our emotions are all forms of self-awareness that align with ihsan, or excellence in character. Helping a child to express themselves safely is a way of nurturing their fitrah, their natural state of emotional and spiritual purity. 

Reflection and Self-Awareness in the Quran 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hashar (59), Verse 19: 

‘And do not become like those people who have become oblivious to Allah (Almighty); so, He (Allah Almighty) made them oblivious about themselves…’ 

This verse reminds us that self-awareness is deeply connected to spiritual awareness. Helping a child to draw their emotions or experiences encourages a gentle form of self-recognition, a way of learning to see what is inside rather than hiding or forgetting it. It is a form of reflection that can bring the heart closer to clarity and, ultimately, to Allah Almighty. 

The Prophetic Way of Easing Distress 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 225, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘He who relieves a believer of a worldly distress, Allah will relieve him of one of the distresses of the Day of Resurrection.’ 

This hadith reflects the immense reward of helping others to ease their emotional burdens. When you invite your child to draw instead of forcing them to speak, you are offering them a gentle relief from their inner distress, creating a space for healing without any demands. By simply sitting beside them, listening, and honouring their expression, you are mirroring a prophetic compassion. Your calm presence becomes a mercy that helps to transform their confusion into comfort. 

Drawing together does not just reveal what happened; it restores your connection. It tells your child that they can be understood without perfect words, that their emotions can take shape safely, and that communication is about more than just talking. 

Over time, this simple tool will nurture both their emotional intelligence and their trust in you. Your child will learn that sharing can be creative, peaceful, and even sacred, because every moment of calm understanding between a parent and child carries the light of mercy that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ so beautifully modelled.