This week's session was about animation. The class was divided into groups and were to create an animation using the materials they were given. One group created a flip book animation, another created a sand art animation and the last group created a charcoal drawing animation, all of which could be easily used with a class of children as the materials are all easy to use.
I however was absent from this session due to illness so instead of reflecting on my experience I will examine the view of using art as a form of therapy for ill children as it has been an aspect of art that I have been interested in learning more about.
"Art Therapy is usually a very effective way of working with children who may be going through a difficult time. This may be due to specific changes in the child’s life, for example, divorce, bereavement, trauma, bullying, arrival of a new sibling etc. What may be difficult to put into words, or even unknown in spoken language, can be expressed through the artwork or sandtray" (London Art Therapy Centre 2013). It is usually carried out by outside agencies who have had specific training in art, child psychology and therapy, however teachers and other adults in the child's life can also use art therapy. However Callaway and Kear (1999) states that: "If a child seems to display inappropriate behaviour...during an art-making session, the teacher's duty is to refer to an appropriate agency, not to try to provide classroom therapy."
Art therapy is used to help children with not just emotional difficulties but with barriers to learning such as Dyslexia and Autism who struggle to express themselves, therefore I feel that it is something that more teachers/ schools should be including this in their support programs. A client from the Mental Health Services had this to say about art therapy: "Art therapy has been very good for me because I am Dyslexic. I found it hard to write things down, doing art has helped me to explain things better. It has given me more time to try and understand my feelings past, present and future" (British Association of Art Therapists 2011). Teachers can begin to incorporate art therapy into their Heath and Wellbeing lessons through creative artwork and discussion to cover the outcomes:
- I am aware of and able to express my feelings and am developing the ability to talk about them. HWB 1-01a
- I know that we all experience a variety of thoughts and emotions that affect how we feel and behave and I am learning ways of managing them. HWB 1-02a
- I understand that there are people I can talk to and that there are a number of ways in which I can gain access to practical and emotional support to help me and others in a range of circumstances. HWB 1-03a
- I understand that my feelings and reactions can change depending upon what is happening within and around me. This helps me to understand my own behaviour and the way others behave. HWB 1-04a
- I understand the importance of mental wellbeing and that this can be fostered and strengthened through personal coping skills and positive relationships. I know that it is not always possible to enjoy good mental health and that if this happens there is support available. HWB 1-06a
- I am learning skills and strategies which will support me in challenging times, particularly in relation to change and loss. HWB 1-07a
- I understand that people can feel alone and can be misunderstood and left out by others. I am learning how to give appropriate support. HWB 1-08a (Education Scotland 2010).
Therefore I believe that art therapy is an area of art that could benefit a range of children in a range of circumstances and that it is something that teachers can begin to include in their lessons which links the two curricular areas of art and Health and Wellbeing, as well as others.
References
British Association of Art Therapists (2011). Available at: http://www.baat.org/media.html. [Accessed 18th April 2013]
Callaway, G. and Kear, M. (1999). Teaching Art and Design in the Primary School. Oxon: David Fulton Publishers.
Education Scotland (2010). My Experiences and Outcomes. Available at: http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/myexperiencesandoutcomes/healthandwellbeing/mentalemotionalsocialphysical/index.asp. [Accessed 18th April 2013]
London Art Therapy Centre (2013). Art Therapy With Children. Available at:
http://arttherapycentre.com/what-is-art-therapy/art-therapy-with-children/. [Accessed 18th April 2013]
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