Art for Children with Autism: Help Build Your Child’s Creativity
We all know that art is a beneficial pastime for children, but did you know it can be especially valuable for children with Autism? Art allows children to express themselves through different formats, focusing on drawing, learning an instrument, or acting.
Art and creativity are not only a way for your child to play, but it allows for crucial cognitive growth opportunities and provides many benefits. Keep reading to learn more about art's benefits and some art activity ideas!
Benefits of Art
Art allows children to be creative. Imagination and creative thinking are crucial foundations for children to think outside the box, aid in cognitive and linguistic development, and help to build independence.
Art serves as a method of communication. It is a form of self-expression and a way for children with ASD to communicate, whether that is directly or indirectly. It may be difficult for a child to express their feelings effectively, but it may be easier to do this by acting out a play scene, playing happy music, or drawing their emotions.
Art provides crucial sensory input. Art allows for the inclusion of many different materials, which help a child experience other sensory stimuli. Art such as drawing or painting opens up a lot of mediums, such as crayons, markers, watercolors, acrylic paint, pastels, and more. You can even incorporate different tools, such as painting with fingers, brushes, sponges, etc. This also applies to the categories of music and theater.
Art allows for positive behaviors to grow. Engaging in different art forms can help stimulate learning processes and help with emotional regulation. It can help calm a child down and show them positive methods of relieving stress, anger, overstimulation, and more.
Art initiates social learning. Art can help with modeling behaviors, social skills, turn-taking, attention, and more. Art forms like theater can model social cues and show appropriate behaviors. This can also be done through coloring a social story or watching a music video.
Art improves motor skills. Art can help build both fine and gross motor skills. Painting or drawing targets fine motor skills, such as grasp, hand-eye coordination, hand strength, finger dexterity, and more. While acting and music can help engage gross motor skills such as balance, coordination, and other large body movements.
Art Activity Ideas
Your child is probably already engaging in creative play. Art benefits your child whether they participate in a group session or alone.
Color or free draw.
To mix it up, try different coloring books and different tools for drawing or painting. There are so many fantastic products out there. If you are afraid your child will make a mess, water paint only activates on special coloring sheets.
Act out a scene from the family’s favorite movie.
Listen to music or put on a sing-along.
You can also bring out bowls and spoons from the kitchen and have your child pretend to be playing the drums.
Play with toys.
If your child has trouble getting started, play with them and create a storyline for them to follow. This will help spark their imagination.
We know that these are pretty simple activity ideas, but it’s essential to incorporate some of these simple activities into your child’s daily routine. If you’d like to mix things up, try signing up your child for a play group or child theater. Some groups are specifically created for children with Autism and other diagnoses, like ADHD.
If you’d like to try different crafts with your child and their friends, check out this 42 Sensory Crafts for Kids with Autism, SPD, and ADHD list.
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“Art & Autism: The Importance of Creativity for Children on the Spectrum,” The Place for Children with Autism, accessed 3 November 2022, https://theplaceforchildrenwithautism.com/autism-blog/art-autism-the-importance-of-creativity-for-children-on-the-spectrum