Posted on August 02, 2010 by Elisa Bowes

Children (and adults too!) use art as a natural way to communicate.  Sounds strange for us adults to understand, right? For most of us it has been years since we even touched a marker. 

As we get older, I think we forget how powerful using art as a tool to communicate can be. Often times the children and teens I work with bring me right to their challenge area through their artwork. If the child is dealing with divorce, often times two homes appear, difficulty getting along with a parent shows up in an abstract, emotionally charged painting and feelings of loneliness or sadness show up in a representational drawing of themselves. 

This initial representation gives me a concrete starting point to begin to further explore what they are feeling and thinking in regards to their challenge area. The art makes it less threatening and as a result easier to share these feelings. 

When making the art there is a sense of control or mastery that is experienced. They begin to feel as though they have more control over their feelings in a situation than they had previously thought, and as a result, hope is instilled, a sense of empowerment is felt and spirits are often times lifted. 

Artmaking is fun, it’s playful and it’s creative. It inspires us and invigorates us. Engage in some artmaking WITH your child. I know you will enjoy it and feel a sense of relief too!

Share your artmaking experiences with or without your child by leaving a comment below.

Elissa Bowes, MA, ATR-BC, LCAT, a nationally board certified, registered Art Therapist, works with emotionally challenged, and at-risk children, adolescents, adults, and families and as a consultant to organizations throughout New Jersey. Request her FREE report, “Is Your Daughter Driving You NUTS? 10 Things You Must Know To Keep You From Losing Your Mind Or Pulling Out Your Hair In The Process” by visiting www.higherartnj.com .