Drawing a dog: Cognitive underpinnings

This study investigated preschoolers’ drawing flexibility, operationalized as their ability to draw a dog that is different from the human figure. The role of working memory (M capacity) and executive function in drawing flexibility was examined. The participants were 123 children, 36-73 months old. Regression analyses showed that both M capacity and executive function predicted development in dog drawing; the dog drawing score correlated with M capacity and executive function even partialling out age, motor coordination, and drawing ability (measured with Goodenough’s Draw-a-man test). These results suggest that both M capacity and executive function play an important role in the early development of drawing flexibility.