What a spot on answer! I have been working with families and children with special needs for many years, and the best way to reach them is to “meet them where they are at”. This phrase means different things to every child. The beauty and finesse of therapeutic intervention is at the core of this concept. I loved reading this article, it provides justification and reasoning behind art therapy. I don’t consider myself an artist, by any stretch (), but I find that making the emotions, thoughts and behaviors tangible through “art”–paint, pencils, markers, paper, colors, textures, acting, play, helps children to prices through in their own language on their own terms.
Thanks, ladies for doing the good work! -devoted therapist and mom hard at work and play.

Hi Ana,
Kids learn and process things in many different ways. I wouldn’t force a child to do an art activity if they’re not a willing participant. Instead, I would try to figure out how the child learns and then find a way to teach them through that medium – read books, role play or use toys to role play, play running games, etc.

It’s hard for me to give specific advice without knowing more about the child and the circumstances, but in general, I start by teaching kids about different emotions, how their body responds to different emotions, and start pointing out the emotions of others. From there, we can talk about challenging situations and how their body felt or what feelings they experienced. We can do problem-solving together and give the child opportunities to try the problem again with a different (hopefully better) outcome. Sometimes, these skills are better taught by trained professionals, such as mental health counselors. If he does not respond well to practicing at home, it might be helpful to find a therapist who can do a full assessment of the situation and provide treatment if necessary.

Check out my Pinterest page for more ideas or suggestions that might be helpful for this child.

Nicole