Creativity.

Creativity is a great way for us to express our difficult, hard to understand feelings. Creativity is a way of for children to get out what is inside of them. Children often struggle to find words for their thoughts and feelings, particularly when feelings are very big and confusing. Get creative at home! The only ‘rules’ are that there is no right or wrong, and to lose the idea of a ‘perfect’ image, just be interested in the shapes, colours, and what may be happening in the picture. For example, a person can be represented as a blob of colour or a shape that is not recognised as human. Get your child to tell you what each shape is. Encourage your child to experiment using colours, blobs, shapes, textures or scribbles. When they are done you could look together with your child at their image. Be curious, ask them what each shape is (rather than assume it is a person because it has legs).

Notice things like the colours used, the texture of the paint or pen strokes. Perhaps ask ‘if this blue blob had a voice what would it say?’ Enquire ‘what needs to happen next in the picture?’ Remember, an image is neither ‘good’ nor ‘bad’, it just ‘is’. Sometimes we can have an ‘aha’ moment when we produce or see a picture that perfectly captures a feeling or a thought that has been hard to express in words. The art validates our feelings.

Sometimes we could all do with someone to talk to.  If you would like to meet Helen for a confidential and non-judgemental chat about you, your child, or any other worries, she is available on Wednesdays and Thursdays  9-10am. You can call/text Helen on 07429 654584 or email her at helen@schoolscounsellingpartnership.co.uk