Art – A Great Alternative
Art therapy continues to gain popularity as an effective alternative treatment. It is based on the principle that the creative process of making art is potentially healing and life-enhancing. This form of therapy can help children deal with trauma, stress, illness and aid the child in personal development. While there are professional art therapists, any parent can introduce and encourage the child to draw, copy or create.
Drawing encourages children to express and understand emotions through artistic expression and the creative process. This is particularly important for children with disabilities who often face physical and social challenges they must deal with emotionally.
According to a study by the nonprofit organization Americans for the Arts, creating art builds cognitive and problem-solving skills, strengthens critical thinking, develops social skills and helps the child learn to set goals and accomplish them.
One art teacher of children with special needs observed:
“… art represents one amazing subject, at school and home, at which children with special needs can succeed. Along with being a catalyst for skill development, art teaches life lessons through a therapeutic method. One lesson is the power of planning. For special needs students, the planning that drives the artistic process is more important than the finished work.”
Finding time to allow children to create can sometimes be a challenge, especially when packed in with school, therapy and the demands of family life. Fortunately, companies like Crayola offer products to create artwork at home, on the go, or while sitting in a waiting room. The Crayola Dry-Erase Travel Pack provides a portable activity center that contains dry-erase crayons, activity sheets, crayon sharpener, drawing surface and an erase mitten so kids can create again and again.
The activity sheets help inspire the budding artist and the numbers and letters sheets make the act of writing and copying both fun and mobile. The other advantage is that the erase mitten allows children to wipe away slip-ups and start again adding to their sense of empowerment and self-esteem.
Price: $13.68
Buy it at Amazon.com [1]
Alternative Art Ideas
- Art Therapy: How It Works, the Benefits, How to Start [2]
- Painting Is My Therapy [3]
- This is Me! Family Fun Art Project [4]
- Art Day Stress Free Way to Play [5]
- Art Therapy Project: Georgia O’Keeffe Big Flower [6]
- Art Therapy Project: Picasso Abstract Clay Face [7]
- Encourage Art with Cool Art Supplies [8]
- Art from the heart! Meet the Artist Angie [9]
- Let’s Clay [10]
- Art Project: Picasso Abstract Clay Face [7]
Would you like a guide or key points to help you unlock your child’s full potential? Author Douglas Haddad shares ways to help unlock your child’s full potential [11] (Full Interview 25 minutes).
