How Art Therapy for Children Can Help

February 3rd
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Art therapy for children can provide kids with an easier way to express themselves since
children are more naturally artistic and creative. A young child is likely to be more
comfortable initially expressing him/herself with some crayons and markers, for example, than
he/she is going to be at expressing emotions and feelings through words.
A question and answer type of format can be daunting and intimidating for a child, especially
when they have to try and explain themselves with their already limited vocabulary. Because of
this, art therapy for children can be a much more viable solution for communication than
simply having a conversation and talking about things. This can be especially true when it
comes to children and traumatic events.
If a child experiences something tragic, that event usually gets buried in their subconscious
where it affects them in the future. These types of things are not easy for kids to talk about,
especially when there are deep-rooted emotional issues in play. Through art therapy children
can help bring these suppressed emotions to the surface so the art therapist can then focus on
healing the child’s issue(s).
Does Art Therapy Work For Children?
Art therapy and children can be combined to help in a variety of ways, including but not limited
to the following:
• Art therapy for mental health problems in children
• Art therapy and child grief and/or loss. Can help children communicate about the death
of a mom, dad, or sibling, for example
• Art therapy for bereaved children and/or a child suffering from bereavement
• Art therapy for children with learning disabilities
• Art therapy can help children with emotional problems
• Art therapy can aid kids with their cognitive abilities
• Art therapy can help a child or children with abuse, helping them communicate about
physical or sexual abuse
• Art therapy and children cancer patients…can help a child with cancer
• Art therapy for treatment of schizophrenia in children
Those are just a few aspects in which art therapy can help children. Art therapy can also aid a
child in achieving better self-awareness, relief from stress or anxiety, learning disorders, autism,
and other traumatic experiences.
Through art therapy, children receive treatment that is based on their existing strengths,
weaknesses, intrests, and concerns. It can help children of all ages and races.
As you can see, there are many ways art therapy can work for children. Some ways may be more
fitting than others, and in future posts, I’ll explore a little more deeply how art therapy can help
with some of the more specific examples listed above. If you believe your child has serious
issues that you’d like to aid with art therapy, I’d contact a certified art therapist near you (sorry, I
don’t have the list ready yet, stay tuned as I am working on a national/international directory of
art therapists).
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Filed as Child Art Therapy | Comments (28)

28 Responses to “How Art Therapy for Children Can Help”

1. Tomas on February 4, 2008 5:02 pm
Yes, Art therapy for children can provide kids with an easier way to express themselves.
That’s so for sure, but art therapy gifts the parents no less. We learn to love ourselves by
helping other to express themselves.
I would say that art therapy is not the teaching of something, but the learning of smelling
the flowers and hearing the silence.
2. DR.KUMARANAYAKE on August 9, 2008 8:43 pm
Please let me know how to arts to ventilate emotiones in children.
3. admin on August 9, 2008 10:18 pm
Dr. Kumaranayake, I’m not sure I understand what you mean…Could you rephrase the
question or elaborate a little more?
4. Christina on September 9, 2008 8:47 am
I have a friend who lost her father recently, and her two younger siblings are dealing with
things in very different ways, based on their ages I believe. The 14 yr old is angry, sad,
etc. very emotional. I think art therapy would be an excellent outlet for him. The 6 yr old
has yet to really become emotional, she doesn’t quite understand. Could this work for her
too? Are there any suggestions for an activity I could have them do together that would
benefit both? I tend to focus on painting, so any ideas to start with? Thanks!
5. admin on September 9, 2008 10:08 pm
@Christina: I think art therapy has the potential of being a great outlet for children. If you
are really concerned about addressing something as serious as the death of a parent, I
might suggest looking into a local art therapist. Otherwise, the creative process alone may
be a good release of stress. You might consider doing something more hands-on and
“crafty” with the younger one. I might suggest starting off with an art activity the child is

comfortable with. Good luck and sorry for their loss

6. Troy Branch on January 28, 2009 8:10 pm
 My Name is Troy Branch BFA and I am currently working on a Special Education
Degree at Western Governor’s University. I wish to pursue my graduate studies in the
field of Art Therapy.
I am working on a research paper on the effectiveness of art therapy techniques for
children with learning disabilities (including ASD), in elementary education. I am
especially interested in finding out about art therapy in the integrated (mainstreamed)
classroom environment, its implementation and effectiveness. My paper will have an
overview of art therapy’s history, present state and future in the context of elementary
education.
My intent is to conduct a survey of ten questions via email so that I can use the
information gathered for my research paper. The questions will be open ended in nature
regarding their experiences and opinions on my topic. Each survey participant will be
properly annotated and credited in the paper. I will also be happy to submit the research
document upon completion to all who participate.
Thank you for your help with this in advance,
Respectfully,
Troy Branch
407-375-2016 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 407-375-
2016 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
7. Lilly on April 29, 2009 3:24 pm
My 6yr old son has begun to really take interest in coloring and drawing. He will do it for
long periods of time. We are going through some custody issues and would like to use art
therapy to let him express his emotions instead of in school. Can you give me ideas on
what to have him draw? Thank you soooo much
lilly
8. admin on May 4, 2009 11:52 pm
@Lilly I would suggest taking him to a professional art therapist as they are trained for
these types of situations. If this is not an option, then use your best judgement. You know
your son better than anyone and I think any art he makes could be beneficial for him. It’s
likely that he’s already expressing himself through his colorings and drawings now.
9. Manjing on August 11, 2009 7:46 am
I live with my spacial son (with ASD) who is 8 years old. He started drawing when he
was 6 and then I sent him to the local art school when he was 7. But he likes drawing the
way he thinks not the way he was taught.It seems that drawing is his expressing way as
he difficulties in both socialization and communication. He draws every day.
Currently I am very interested in art therapy and want to learn how art can enhance his
language, and to figure out what his thought or thinking from his drawing.
I will be very appreciated for any thought and suggestion via email:
sunrise233@gmail.com
Thanks
Manjing
10. brinda naidoo on September 27, 2009 11:58 am
 I am currently studyng ar therapy epecially childrn
with spcecial need, emotional difficulties and autism, grief, abuse, hiv aids… I live and
teach
in south Afica and deal with children everyday with
special needs and emotional problems… Art is the
best form of children expressing themselves… they
love it and feel free and happy and I think it is their way of releasing pent up emotions…
so if you
have a child then encourage them to get involved in any form of art good luck to all
parents
11. Muhamad Ali b> Zakaria on September 27, 2009 9:40 pm
Hi, I’m Muhamad Ali from Malaysia. I’m an art lecturer with one of Teacher’s Training
Institute and very much interested in the subject.
i find your article as very illuminating and insightful to my job. Thanks.
12. admin on September 28, 2009 10:17 pm
@Muhamad Thank you for the kind words. Glad to hear you enjoy the site!
13. Cajethan Ekeagwu on January 29, 2010 9:12 am
Thank you very much for this wonderful resource material. I am a social worker recently
charged with working with kids in my agency’s transitional housing programs. Reading
through “How Art Therapy For Children Can Help”, I found this to be very helpful for
my project which will definitely be in art therapy. I would like to read more of art therapy
activities.
Thanks again
14. Olena on January 30, 2010 3:39 pm
Hi. I’m looking for a way to help my child. I broke up with my husband over a year ago,
and my 5-year-old son took it very hard. He is extremely emotional, aggressive,
disobedient.I’m from a perifiral town in Ukraine and I doubt if we have any professionals
in art therapy here. Could you suggest any art therapy activities that can work in my
case? Thank you very much!
15. janex on February 19, 2010 4:56 am
i certainly agree that art therapy could benefit children especially those who can’t express
themselves like children with autism…i want to do further study about art become an art
therapist could you recommend any an institution where i can work as an art teacher as
well as can do further training to become an art therapist? thanks
16. Vincent Okuja on March 2, 2010 2:38 am
I was reading all these comments and am like oh my God! lots of Children out there need
help.Am an art therapist working with war affected Children in Uganda which has been
in war for 23 years.Its such an experience and you keep learning everyday.For those
whose children have been through any sorts of abuse please i would suggest self coloring
cartoon books and please when you think you played a role in traumatizing this child,you
too become part of it and the art would help both of you.Just have art supplies at
reach,work with your child and individually but sometimes these children might not want
you around so use the drawings as a bridge between you.
17. Eloisa F.Fasulo on March 4, 2010 8:27 pm
Sou arte terapeuta,moro no Brasil e realmente as crianças se beneficiam muito com a arte
terapia.Já atendi vários casos de crianças enlutadas,que sofreram abusos e os resultados
surpreenderam.
Adorei o espaço e as matérias.
Abraços.
18. ema on March 6, 2010 10:36 am
Hello…i’m ema,counseling teacher (primary school). i really intrested to learn and use
art therapy in my session. i need to know more detail about this therary and how to
analyse the drawing.
TQ…really need your explaination:)
19. Art is the Best Medicine « Art Benefits Blog on April 7, 2010 3:11 pm
[...] Whether it be with a silent art auction, special dance performance, or teaching
illness-stricken children the benefits of art therapy, art seems to play an important role in
raising money for thousands of causes around the [...]
20. Denis on April 18, 2010 4:13 am
Hi Vincent, Brinda and any one who can help, i am a father of an 8-year old boy. His
mom and I seperated when he was 4. He has lots of anger and do not get along well with
people. Can you suggest more ways to help him express himself. And how exactly do i
use the drawings as a bridge between us? please help. my email:
conskaramata@yahoo.com I live in Namibia.
warm regards,
cons
21. zak on August 18, 2010 1:21 pm
so art therapy makes children express their feeling
the process of painting, drawing might be enjoyable
and The content of the image made in the art therapy session can contain many
meanings !
but what an art therapist exactlly do?! the child express himself and the art therapist get
the meaning and find for example he/she has experienced
rape, WHAT can an art therapist DO after finding out the problem ?!
plz answer me as i am interested in art therapy i studied art and i have a desire to help
others But i couldent find my answer all the art therapy web sites just say that it can heal
but how exactlly? just being awar of the problem doesent mean that u can solve it!
22. Ritu on August 29, 2010 7:25 am
hey i am a 22yr old from india..i have a bachelors degree in management but im currently
working as a primat teacher.. im looking for a course in art therapy as i intend to heal
children using art as a medium.. could u plz guide me? with any course available in
india? Thank you..
23. jessie honeycutt on September 16, 2010 7:23 am
i think art therpy helps alot of people i have been through alot cancer,liver transplant and
the pain that came with all that and before all that i already liked drawing but after the
 surgery and stuff i found out that drawing then was much better for me because it helped
me releave stress
24. jessie honeycutt on September 16, 2010 7:24 am
thats why i would like to beacome a art therpist it would be good for me and the people i
help
25. paulette on September 25, 2010 7:10 pm
Hi this is a great avenue for learning about art therapy and all that it can do. I am a
teacher and currently researching the benefits of art therapy in secondary schools. I would
like to learn more about this so any help will be welcomed. Would love to see this
implemented in schools in my country- Trinidad and Tobago
26. Holly on September 30, 2010 7:02 am
Hi,
I am very interseted in your website and have found your work very beneficial to my
research studies in this field. I would really appreciate if you could e-mail me back with
information of original research sources you have used or learnt from to include in my
project.
Thanks, Holly
27. Vincent Okuja on October 4, 2010 3:43 am
Hi Denis,sory i did not get back to you hope your little boy is doing well and you are
getting along.Do you always have themes or the therapy your involving your son in? i
think both of you need to engage in this activity and help each other out.Let me know if
you need more help.Art therapy remains A GREAT TOOL.
admin on August 9, 2008 10:18 pm
Dr. Kumaranayake, I’m not sure I understand what you mean…Could you rephrase the
question or elaborate a little more?
Ventilating emotions in art therapy is a term that every therapist should know its relating
yourself with the art work,being in the composition,accepting the situation and seeing
resilience.This feed back is inline with Dr.Kumaranayake’s question asked years ago.
28. Bryan Fly on October 20, 2010 7:21 pm
I think art therapy is a wonderful outlet for children. I myself love art and encourage any
child around me to practice and express themselves through it, as many of us adults
should. This is a great resource for many people, please keep up the excellent work.
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