Reach Your Child's Potential with Professional Insights
Most typical children naturally love to pretend play and intuitively use their imaginations at a relatively early age. We see this in normal development the strongest around 3-6 years of age. A child may pick up a toy car and “pretend” it is driving up and down the furniture; he may joyfully make sounds to [...]
Most children who are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have difficulty regulating their emotions and maintaining a calm state. Children with autism and special needs go through similar emotional challenges as typical children do, but it takes them longer to get through them and it may take some creative techniques. In addition, it [...]
Using Art Therapy and other creative activities can offer unique ways for all children to gain a sense of control and mastery of their environment, grow in self-expression, self-awareness, and self-esteem. This holds true for children with special needs, ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), and other developmental issues as well. However, because these children very often [...]
Amazing talents and gifts are present in kids with differences. We need to not focus so much on the negatives, but to stress the positive aspects of the challenges for those with exceptionalities. Most people on the autism spectrum have so many talents. We need to explore them and encourage them to continue onward. “Art [...]
“Hi Lori! I love your documentary and work you have done in raising awareness on autism. Our 3rd son has a diagnosis of Aspergers. He is very artistic and smart. He attends a public charter school. He will most surely continue in his artistic abilities and his life work will probably be in animation and [...]
The arts can have profound effect on all persons. Children are especially open to how creative expression enhances their world. Experts agree that the arts are a natural means for children to play and learn. The benefits of arts participation and education are many: motivates children in learning, stimulates memory, facilitates understanding, enhances symbolic communication, [...]
We have three children, each unique with the back to school ritual. The daughter was ready to purchase back to school supplies in mid-July and had her closets and desk organized in anticipation of the workload and expectations at the new middle school. The youngest was unsure about school, simply because it means having to [...]
An inspirational article crossed my desk, Tucson Schools Enhance Learning with the Arts. I was so impressed with the success story that I reached out to two OJTA Members for feedback. The article opens with “At Corbett Elementary School, in Tucson, Arizona, classical music floats through the hallways all day. First graders and fifth graders [...]
by Tiffani Lawton, RN The therapeutic value of the arts is immeasurable in it’s ability to enhance communication, social skills, self regulation, self esteem and so much more. I believe that finding the right outlet for the creative expression within any child, on the spectrum or not, is the key to success for many children. [...]
by Pamela Ullmann, MS, ATR-BC, LCAT Very often, my goals as an art therapist will focus on the creative expression in developing the child’s imagination, communication and socialization skills. These are all areas that the child with Autism Spectrum Disorder is working on in school, home and other therapies as well. However, sometimes art can [...]
