ART THERAPY INSTRUCTIONS: 
 Kimberly Fraioli

 

The names of the art therapy projects with their specific purpose or objective that I plan on doing with the children are as follows:

1)       Finger painting to music with the little ones

2)       Outdoor clouds imagery workshop

3)       Photo-Therapy mural with the older children

4)       Art therapy drawing activities

 

The purpose of the finger painting to music exercise is to stimulate the children’s senses through sight, sound and touch in safe healing ways to promote creative play.

Materials needed:

1)    Finger paints 

2)       Finger paint paper 

3)       Tongue depressors 

4)       Relaxation tapes or CD’s without words 

5)       Drop cloth 

6)       Tape/CD player 

 

Directions:

·         14 children to a group

·         Put music on and have the children close their eyes and use their imagination to paint in the air to the music.

·         Change the music tempo two or three times

·         Then apply a small amount of one color finger paint to each child’s paper

·         Have them paint to the music

·         Add a small amount of a new color to the paper each time you change the music (approximately 5 times)

 

 The outdoor cloud imagery exercise is a drawing activity done outside with the children.  This activity is to stimulate their imaginations to draw the formations or shapes they see in the sky.  For the children requiring more structure, I have supplies pre-printed copied pictures of clouds to be colored in.

Materials needed:

1)        Crayons, colored markers, colored pencils 

2)        Blank drawing paper 

3)        Paper pre-printed with cloud formations

 

Directions:

·         14 children to a group

·         Go outside and have children lie on their backs and look up into the sky at the clouds

·         Have the children speak out what they see or identify as the shapes in the clouds

·         Then have them draw what they have identified

·         If the weather does not permit going outside, use of the pre-printed design clouds will suffice

 

Photo-therapy collage with the older children is an activity to promote self-individuality while also working as a team or community for a common goal.  This exercise is to raise self-esteem in each child allowing them to feel good about who they are as a person and how they fit into the group.   Each child will have a Polaroid picture taken of them to cut out and glue down to directly place themselves into the community created collage.

 

Materials needed:

1)       Mural paper 

2)       Markers, crayons, colored pencils 

3)       Glue 

4)       Scissors 

5)       Polaroid film 

6)       Polaroid camera 

7)       Tacky tape to hang completed mural on the wall 

 

Directions:

·         Limit to involvement of 50 children total, due to film limitation

·         Have the selected group choose a theme that they would like do draw on the mural paper.  For example, It can be a tropical Island; an imaginary made up place, an underwater scene, a playground, or any special safe place the group agrees on.

·         Then have them draw out the scene with the ideas of where they would like to be inside the created place.

·         Then each child/adolescent will have their picture taken in a particular pose (chosen by the child)

·         They will cut themselves out of the picture and glue themselves onto the community mural. (staff can assist in the cutting if necessary)

·         The mural is to be displayed in the orphanage for all to see.

 

Art therapy drawing activities are miscellaneous drawing exercises provided for the children.  Each activity is not pre-determined, for it depends on the age, enthusiasm and interest of the different children.  All art therapy activities will have the common goal of encouraging spontaneous expression, exploring creativity and building self-confidence.

Materials needed: 

1)        Crayons 

2)        Colored pencils 

3)        Colored markers 

4)        Blank drawing paper 

5)        Outdoor  sidewalk chalk 

 

Done on an individual or group basis, Group number would be 14 children

 

Other activities that I have planned that are in a less formal fashion is a hair braiding workshop to be held with all the girls who are interested.  This is to promote a positive connection and nurturing interaction with the girls.  Quality time will be spent brushing and braiding each child’s hair that wants this type of interaction.

Materials needed:

1)        Hairbrush, comb 

2)        Hair rubber bands 

3)        Hair beads 

 

Stress management skills can be taught on an individual basis with the adolescents.  As well as individual therapeutic consultations for children or adolescence exhibiting difficulties coping with their life’s circumstances.  Supportive interventions and the teaching of creative coping skills can be taught.

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Updated: 11/23/2004