KFD

Kinetic Family Drawing (KFD): As prepared by Sarah Margaret Wade
Reference:
Burns, R.C., & Kaufman, S.H. (1970). Kinetic Family Drawings (K-F-D): An introduction to
understanding children through kinetic drawings. New York:Brunner/ Mazel.
Burns, R. C., & Kaufman, S.H. (1972). Actions, styles, and symbols in kinetic family
drawings (K-F-D): An interpretive manual. New York: Brunner/ Mazel.
Brooke, S.L. (2004). Tools of the trade: a therapist’s guide to art therapy assessments.
Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas Publisher, LTD.
Purpose / Ages
The assessment was designed to understand child development and their self-concept and interpersonal relationships. It is believed to be a projective test and is used mostly with children and adolescents, however, age limit is not stated.
Materials: #2 pencil, 8 1/2" x 11" white paper
Procedures / Administration
There is no time limit. The administrator is to instruct the client to do the following:
“Draw a picture of everyone in your family, including you, doing something. Try to draw whole people, not cartoons or stick people. Remember; make everyone doing something—some kind of action.”
Inquiry
No specific inquiry is suggested. However, it is important to have a general idea and description of what the family is doing, who is represented in the picture, and what the client’s general thoughts are about the picture. An attempt should be made to gain an understanding of what they participant has drawn.
Interpretation
The interpretation is based upon actions, styles, and symbols used in the drawing. Scoring is based upon a grid to measure the distance of the self from the other figures and sizes of figures represented in the picture. An analysis sheet is included that summarizes information from the grid and drawing characteristics.
Strengths
The KFD shows promise as a tool that yields information about a child's personality state.
Limitations
test-retest reliability evidence was weak suggesting that the KFD may be sensitive to mood changes and pretest conditions. The test may also not be a reliable indicator or personality traits.
Adaptations/ Reflection
"Family Sculpture" -using modeling clay is a three-dimensional version of the family drawing. The benefit of using clay is that it allows the possibility for making changes and moving figures in relation to others.
"Draw yourself and a family member of your choice" might be a good alternative to children who may be resistant to drawing an entire family for various reasons.
I found the KFD to be a very unique way to understand both the client’s relationship with family members and how the client views themselves within their family. Burns’s and Kaufman’s book, Actions, Styles, and Symbols in Kinetic Family Drawings (K-F-D), is an excellent source for gathering information on the actions, styles, and symbols represented in drawings. The KFD assessments that I gathered for my client portfolio were fairly adequate in representing the client’s sense of self within their family.