The Healing Power of Children’s Art
Talk to the image. Once your child has released his feelings onto paper, he can speak with them. He might use his picture of Worry to ask what it needs to calm down, or to tell it to leave. It’s often easier to converse with feelings when they’re outside than when they’re gnawing away inside, at for example, a stressed-out tummy.
Take artistic action. Although it’s a great release when a child can draw her angry, hurt, or upset feelings, pictures don’t have to be static. She can erase part of it, or draw over it in “healing” colors with a changeable marker-an immediate transformation that feels magical. She can even rip up or throw away the paper. These actions can offer a hurting child a sense of control and satisfaction.
Capture the memory. The special places your child visits on his imaginary journeys can be personal healing sanctuaries. Hanging pictures of them somewhere private but visible will remind him that he can return whenever the need arises. And drawings of trusted animal friends and wizards may help him remember support is always near.
Accept every drawing. Some kids are hesitant to put their mental pictures to paper; they’re afraid they won’t be good be enough. Reassure your child that anything he creates is fine. Sometimes all that comes are strokes of bold color evolving out of a wonderful or terrible feeling that is finally set free on paper. Praise each one. They are the artifacts of your child’s precious inner world.
Charlotte Reznick PhD is a child educational psychologist, an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology at UCLA, and author of the LA Times bestselling book The Power of Your Child’s Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success (Perigee/Penguin) You can find out more about her at http://www.imageryforkids.com
