Hello friends! Today I have a guest post by Lillian Brooks of Learning Disabilities, a website which "was created to offer information and understanding to parents of children with learning disabilities, as well as adults who are in need of continued support to succeed." Any comments or questions may be addressed to Lillian at her email: lillian@learningdisabilities.info. Thanks, Lillian!
Creativity Is the Best Therapy for Disabled Kids
The arts are often left out when we think of education, and that’s a big loss for everyone involved, especially children with disabilities. They have the most to gain from creative endeavors, from painting to music to dance. The arts also provide a variety of benefits, including an avenue for self-expression, a nurturing social environment, and a boost in confidence. With limited effort from schools, it may be up to you to introduce your kids to what the arts have to offer. Here are some ideas on how to get started.
Go to the Museum
It may be a long haul if you’re far from the big city, but it’s well worth it. Together, you’ll see intriguing paintings and sculptures that help you connect with new ideas and different perspectives on the world around us. This could also light a creative spark that pays off dividends in more ways than one. According to one writer at Living in Dialogue, a website devoted to issues in education, putting brush to canvas gives disabled children an important means of self-expression, as they take something from their imagination and bring it to reality.
See a Concert
The radio can’t compare to the excitement of seeing a live symphony orchestra. It may even inspire your child to take up a classical instrument, such as the clarinet or violin. The benefits of this training are enormous, as it aids in cognitive development while helping develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination, says one writer with the Connolly music company. When choosing an instrument, let the child’s tastes be your guide, but take their age, size, and strength into consideration as well. A stand-up bass might not be right for a small child, for example.
Visit a Dance Studio
Dance adds bodily movement to self-expression, encouraging emotional release as well as balance and coordination. Speaking with the parenting magazine San Diego Family, a father and mother had nothing but positive things to say about this art form. First of all, getting down to the music is just plain old fun. Then there are the social benefits of mixing with other children in a non-judgmental forum. To boot, it’s a healthy form of exercise that burns plenty of calories while teaching the value of fitness.
Explore the Aerial Arts
You may not have considered aerial arts as an artistic outlet for your child, but it’s growing in popularity across the country because it’s colorful, captivating, and exhilarating for people of all ages, especially the young. They are immediately drawn to the myriad ways you can express yourself through bodily movement while swinging from the ceiling. It’s like dancing in the air, and who could say “no” to that? There are no winners or losers -- just the freedom and self-expression that helps them reach beyond their own physical limitations.
Create a Home Studio
Now that you’ve explored some of the different arts available, you may consider creating a studio at home, complete with the art and music supplies they need, in a quiet and nurturing setting. It should be well designed and beautiful to inspire creativity, which you can achieve with their own paintings hanging on the walls in bright, colorful frames. This can also serve as a quiet place to practice their instrument, as there’s no reason to limit them to one art form.
Find the Right Tutors
It helps to have qualified instruction to help your children along in their creative endeavors, but there are some qualities that these professionals need, such as a great amount of patience, as well as some creative thinking to help the disabled get over some hurdles. Interview tutors carefully to make sure they’re a good fit for your child.
Little do you know it, but your child is off on a great voyage that could last their entire lifetime. That’s truly one of the greatest gifts you could ever give them.
Image via Pixabay
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