In a recent study (Hamaker & Van Essen, 1989), we found that having first graders generate drawings of simple word problems before solving them did not improve problem solutions. Knowledge and experience of the usefulness of a problem-solving strategy like making drawings is an essential condition if a pupil is expected to apply the strategy in a situation in which the solution process is not algorithmic. Against the (uncertain) benefits of the strategy, there are the efforts of applying an unknown and unpracticed strategy (Frijda & Elshout, 1975). Because making drawings of simple addition and subtraction word problems does not seem to facilitate problem solving for young children, this condition was insufficiently realized in the first study.