Peers play a central, purposeful role in visual arts–based interventions by serving as natural communication partners who help create authentic, social, and motivating contexts for interaction. Their involvement transforms art-making from a solitary activity into a collaborative, socially rich experience. In these interventions, peers support reciprocal communication, shared problem-solving, emotional connection, and engagement, without the pressure that may be associated with direct social skills training.
Structured peer roles promote positive interdependence, so children must communicate to accomplish the shared goal
This promotes joint attention, collaborative problem solving, turn-taking, shared planning, and making choices as a team
Peers respond authentically - not through clinician-driven prompts - leading to more spontaneous, functional communication
Peers naturally model social language, perspective taking, topic maintenance, humor and figurative language, emotional expression, and conflict resolution
Shared creative spaces allow students to connect with like-minded peers over a meaningful activity
Peers make art motivating, social, and fun by providing energy, humor, shared enthusiasm, and novel ideas
Social anxiety often decreases in art environments because the focus is on the task, not on the demands of conversation
Peers help create a space where expressing interests is welcomed, social pressure is reduced, and creative identities can be expressed without fear of judgment