Children with autism are so visually oriented, it makes perfect sense to engage them in art activities, be it formally with an art therapist, casually in other classes or at home. Art therapists report that children with autism who engage in one-on-one sessions show an improved ability to imagine and think symbolically, enhanced ability to recognize and respond to facial expressions, new ability to manage sensory issues such as a range of texture and greater fine motor skills. One of our students finds it exciting making homemade clay, the feeling of kneading the warm dough, then folding in the colors. I kept easels set up on the porch and she painted nearly every week. Doing art fosters pride in themselves and their creations.
Benefits of Art Therapy
Art gives children on the autism scale a powerful means to channel their inner life and experience.
During quiet time at home, you could have your child make his or her own guide to feelings by having them draw pictures of “Happy,” “Sad,” “Scared,” “Mad,” or “Frustrated” faces.
Laminate or otherwise protect the pictures and have them on hand for your child to identify how he or she is feeling when words cannot. Buy them a sketch book and encourage them to keep a daily art journal.
Creative self-expression in all its untold forms is going to be a key to enhancing your child’s well-being
Up to thirty-percent of children with autism are nonverbal, and many low functioning children have difficulty following verbal commands, and have difficult time with social awareness like understanding body language. Children with autism are more sensitive to anxiety than the average child, as they are unable to filter out provoking stimuli. Weekly music therapy sessions will improve overall behavior, with the most improvement seen in their behavior. Research also shows that when children experienced hour-long sessions of music therapy once a week, it would improve their conduct behavior like restlessness, aggression, and noisiness. In addition, music therapy is engaging and enjoyable for Autistic children because it brings change in their social behavior and cognitive ability through prolonged sessions.
Benefits of Lego Therapy
Lego therapy is a social development program which helps children and young people with autism spectrum disorders and related social communication difficulties. The program is based on the highly structured, systematic, and predictable nature of brick building play which makes it appealing to children with social communication difficulties.
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