Picture your child, fully focused and enjoying themselves, as they express their feelings through bright colors and bold brushstrokes. This isn’t just a fun way to spend an afternoon; it’s art therapy for kids, a powerful method that can help neurodivergent children and those with thinking and learning differences understand their emotions and build important life skills. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of art therapy, offer tips on how to get started, and show how this creative approach can help your child grow emotionally. So, let’s dive into the world of art therapy and see how it can make a difference in your child’s life with the help of tools like Goally.
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What is Art Therapy, and How Does It Help Neurodivergent Kids?
Art therapy is a special kind of therapy that uses creative activities to help people express themselves and explore their feelings. It can be especially helpful for neurodivergent kids because it gives them a way to share their thoughts and emotions without having to use words. By providing a safe and supportive environment, art therapy can help children process complex emotions and develop emotional intelligence.
Here are some of the main benefits of art therapy for kids:
- Sharing emotions: Art therapy lets children show their feelings in a safe and supportive setting. This helps them understand and deal with their emotions better.
- Building self-esteem: Making art can make kids feel proud and successful, which helps them feel more confident and willing to try new things.
- Reducing stress: Doing creative activities can help kids feel more relaxed and less worried or anxious.
- Improving problem-solving: Art therapy helps kids think in new and different ways, which can make them better at solving problems and thinking creatively.
- Developing social skills: When kids do art therapy in a group, they can learn how to work together and communicate better with others.
Read more: Kid Stress Relievers
Starting Art Therapy for Kids: Helpful Tips
Are you ready to try art therapy with your child? With the help of tools like Goally, you can create a structured routine for your child’s art therapy sessions.
Here are some tips to help you begin:
- Find a trained art therapist: Look for a professional who has experience working with children and knows how to help neurodivergent kids. They should be part of a well-known organization, like the American Art Therapy Association.
- Make a comfortable space: Set up a special area in your home for art therapy sessions. Make sure it’s quiet and has lots of art supplies, like paint, crayons, markers, and paper.
- Encourage creativity: Let your child try different art materials and techniques. Remember, there is no correct way to make art!
- Be patient and supportive: It might take some time for your child to feel comfortable with art therapy. Cheer them on and praise their efforts, but don’t worry too much about the final artwork.
- Talk to the therapist: Keep in touch with your child’s art therapist and share any thoughts or concerns you have. This will help make sure your kid gets the best help possible.
By incorporating art therapy into your child’s daily routine using Goally, you can ensure consistency and help them get the most out of their sessions.
Read more: 7 Fun Activities for Kids With ADHD
Fun Art Therapy Activities to Try at Home
Working with a professional art therapist is a great idea, but there are also many art therapy activities you can do at home with your child.
Here are a few different ideas to get you started:
- Collage: Give your child different materials, like magazines, newspapers, and fabric pieces, and ask them to make a collage that shows their feelings or experiences.
- Painting with music: Play different kinds of music and have your child paint what they hear. This can help them explore how music affects their feelings and creativity.
- Clay modeling: Offer your child some clay or playdough and ask them to shape their thoughts, feelings, or experiences. This hands-on activity can be very calming and helpful.
- Storytelling through art: Encourage your child to create a series of drawings or paintings that tell a story. This can help them express their thoughts and feelings in a fun and interesting way.
- Mandalas: Teach your child about mandalas, which are circular designs used for meditation and relaxation. Have them create their own mandalas using colors and shapes that they like.
By incorporating these activities into your child’s routine with the help of Goally, you can provide them with a consistent and engaging way to explore art therapy at home.
Goally | Apps To Support Child Development
Looking for fun ways to help your child learn life skills? Try Goally! The Goally tablet comes with award-winning learning apps and video classes to help kids develop the skills they need to become independent with FUN & evidence-based practices.
Our apps teach executive function, language, emotional regulation, finger dexterity skills, and more.
As your child develops new skills, you can increase the difficulty level of the tasks in the app to challenge and motivate them even further. This helps your child grow and progress at their own pace, while also keeping them engaged and excited about their development.
Art therapy for kids is a special and powerful way to help neurodivergent children, those with thinking and learning differences grow emotionally and build important life skills. Art therapy can help your child feel more confident, understand their emotions better, and learn new ways to solve problems. So, why give it a try? Explore the world of art therapy with your child and see the amazing changes it can bring to their lives. With the support of tools like Goally, you can create a structured and engaging environment for your child to thrive in their art therapy journey.
This post was originally published on 05/01/2023. It was updated on 09/20/2023.
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