Reflections on Art Therapy & Creative Parenting Ideas

For over 30 years, Kardon Institute for Arts Therapy has helped individuals with special needs through comprehensive music, dance and art therapy.

Reflections on Art Therapy & Creative Parenting Ideas

Marissa Householder

When contemplating what my blog for KIAT would focus on, I began to reflect on experiences I’ve had with my clients over the past 15 months. I facilitate art therapy sessions with clients of all ages at both our “in-house” programs and within various community outreach sites throughout the Philadelphia area. One day I’ll be working in an adult mental health outpatient program providing one-on-one treatments to clients recovering from various psychiatric diagnoses such as bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia. Another day I will be leading a group in a residential program for women recovering from alcohol abuse and their children who often are coping with the affects of fetal alcohol exposure. Other days my work focuses on developing artistic-based interventions for children with developmental challenges such as autism and mental retardation. The common thread between the places I work is that I am providing client-focused, strengths-based art therapy interventions. The art materials I use with clients serve as a method of communication; a way to express one’s inner thoughts and feelings and as a way to boost a client’s self esteem. In a group setting, art-making provides a unique way for clients to work together on a common theme, to gain additional coping skills and to support one another.

A theme that often overlaps within my weekly sessions is that of “parenting”. In one-on-one sessions, parents may bring up difficulties they encounter in trying to improve communication with their children. In one program where mothers are in a post-addictions recovery facility with their children, I often facilitate joint mother/child art interventions. In this environment, I am not only treating the client but treating the client within her family system. Through this method, I am providing ways in which parents and children can utilize art-making and creativity to enhance their relationship and increase communication. These art experiences can then be used beyond the time of the therapy session for continued enjoyment.

Here are some engaging and meaningful art activities that parents can participate in with their children. These “creative parenting” ideas can be used to provide a time for fun, laughter, communication, creativity and overall enjoyment between any parent and their child(ren).

Creative Parenting Idea #1: “Clay Making”

The following recipes make use of everyday household items which can be combined to create a clay substance that can then be molded and shaped. Parents and children can take turns in putting in the ingredients and stirring the ingredients. After the clay is made, rolling pins and cookie cutter shapes can be used on the clay for even more creativity. This art experience is great for engaging many senses at once and can allow for quite an exciting process for parents and children to experience.

East Salt Dough

Materials: Process:

1 ½ cups flour 1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl

¾ cup salt 2. Add more water if needed

¾ cup water 3. Knead into soft dough

bowl 4. Model as with any dough

Quick Modeling Clay

Materials: Process:

1 cup cold water 1. Mix the water, salt, oil and enough powdered paint to make a bright color

1 cup salt 2. Gradually work flour and cornstarch in until like bread dough

2 t. oil 3. knead

3 cups flour 4. Model as with any clay

2 T. cornstarch

Powdered paint or

food coloring

*recipes from “Global Art” by MaryAnn F Kohl and Jean Potter

Creative Parenting Idea #2: “Scribble Designs”

Either the parent or child can begin this activity. It is recommended to use crayons, colored pencils, markers or oil pastels. The first step is to scribble over an entire piece of paper so that it creates many smaller sections within the scribble. Next, parents and children take turns coloring in or making designs within different sections of the “scribble”. Each person can have one color throughout the activity or change colors during each turn. The final result will be a collaborative and colorful design to be proud of and talk about!

Creative Parenting Idea #3: “Q-tip Painting”

Art can be even more fun when you use materials already available in your home! The materials you will need for this activity are cotton swabs or Q-tips, nontoxic paints (tempera paints are suggested), paper cups or a paper plate, and sheets of paper of any size. Tape a sheet of paper to a flat surface to allow the paper to remain in place while you are working. Choose a few colors of paint to use and place a small amount on each paper plate or in each paint cup. Take turns with your child dipping the cotton swabs into the paint and experimenting with the different types of marks you can create on the paper. You can have fun with your child creating dots, lines and squiggles of all colors.

Please feel free to share any additional creative parenting art ideas in response to this blog or comment on how these activities worked for you!