When developing a writing and art program, show some references, drawings, paintings, or any clippings to children, so when they ask you, is it doable, and is it about the kids?
You can answer them appropriately. You can tell them to write or draw today what they think about yesterday or today. Pin samples in their room to get them motivated. In some cases, it takes time before kids can express their thoughts, that’s why it can be helpful to tell them to draw and write because it could be a fascinating and enjoyable activity for them.
Expressing and showing true feelings might not be easy for some because it seems to be taboo in some cultures and settings. It’s useful to have mediums for people to help them identify, express, and understand their feelings, and articulate their psychological states and processes. Writing and art therapy can be used for self-expression, develop social skills, address aggression issues, trauma, and emotional disturbance.
Writing and art therapy activity program research study
Writing and art therapy can help children with chronic illness, post-disaster trauma, and aggressive behavior. In a study conducted in Indonesia, writing and drawing expression has been used to help children aged 9–12 years old express what they feel in good and bad situations and afterward. These Indonesian children have chronic illness, post-disaster experience, and behavioral problems. To conduct the activity program the children were given blank papers, pencils, and coloring tools. They were asked to write and/or draw anything they wanted. After which, they were instructed to name and score their present feelings from 1 to 10. Then they’d get written positive feedback. Therapist feedbacks were also provided as positive support. Results of the study showed that writing and drawing are useful for children to express their emotions such as being happy, sad, angry, or afraid. It also helped them to manage their feelings and relief, and show positive affirmation. Moreover, it enhanced positive behavior, particularly tolerance and optimism. Because it enhances their positive psychological state, writing and art expression has been found useful to support children’s psychological well-being. (1)
Art
During the program, the kids were able to express their optimism in the artworks they created. Also, they were able to articulate their hopes such as surviving, and that some help would come to save them. After art therapy select children showed lower aggressive problem scores. (1)
Writing
The kids were also able to express themselves during writing activity. Some say they are happier at home than in the hospital because they can watch TV. Others expressed their hospital observations such as not being able to sleep because many children cry loudly because they fear being injected. Some kids have articulated their hopes of going home. During the follow-up, some kids shared having experienced relief after writing because they were able to express their sadness, happiness, and anger. Some of the most remarkable notes documented were“After I write, I feel relief because I can fill out my sadness and my happiness and my angry.” and “I usually forgot what has happened today, but then I wrote and feel so relief after.” (1)
Reference:
- (1) Utami D.S. Children’s Art Therapy Through Writing and Drawing: Case Study In Indonesia. October 2014. Conference: 2nd International Symposia The Biopsychological Basics of Life in Education and Health. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.22564.07046
Further readings:
- (1) ‘Ali, N. H. & Utami, D. S. (2013). The Effectiveness of the Book “Pelangi Hatiku” to Reduce Aggression among Elementary School’s Students (in Indonesian). Jurnal Intervensi, 5(1), 59–74.
- (2) Kumara, A., Utami, D. S., Yuliani, G., & Andriani, D.R. (2003). Writing and Drawing as Therapy Medium (in Indonesian). Jurnal Psikologi, 30(1), 1–28.
- (3) Sweet, M. A., Heyman, G. D., Fu, G., & Lee, K. (2010). Are There Limits to Collectivism? Culture and Children’s Reasoning about Lying to Conceal a Group Transgression. Infant Child Dev., 19(4), 422–442.
- (4) Utami, D.S. & Kumara, A. (2013). The Book “Rainbow of My Heart” as a Medium to Manage Hospitalized Children’s Emotions. In E. Witruk and A. Wilcke (Eds.), Historical and Cross-Cultural Aspects of Psychology Band 4, (pp. 355–372). Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang GmbH.
- (5) Prawitasari, J. E. (2000). Pengembangan Metode Deteksi Emosi pada Pasien Rumah Sakit Umum. Research Report. Unpublished. Yogyakarta: Fakultas Psikologi Universitas Gadjah Mada.
✍️April 17, 2024
Oil Therapy 