What Is Nature-Based Children’s Art Therapy?
Nature-based art activity is a form of creative therapy that uses nature as its main source of inspiration. The therapist and the child work together to find natural objects, features, and landscapes that can be used as the foundation for creative expression.
Some of the benefits of incorporating nature into art therapy include improved imagination and freedom of expression, a positive link between nature, art, and well-being, and engagement with the arts aid’s physical, cognitive, linguistic, social and emotional development.
How Can Nature-Based Art Activity Help Children?
When children are struggling to find the words to express themselves, incorporating nature into their artwork can help. Nature provides children with a nonverbal way to communicate, and it can be a great way for them to explore their feelings and emotions.
Nature-based art activity supports experiential learning and play, which are both important for children’s development. Experiential learning allows children to learn by doing, and play is essential for children’s development. It helps them learn about the world around them, and it allows them to explore their creativity.
Nature also has a number of benefits for the health and wellbeing of children. It can help reduce stress levels and anxiety, and it can improve mental health.
Developing Bonding With Nature Through Art in Australia
Here in Australia, we’re incredibly lucky to have an abundance of natural beauty all around us. And it’s not just scenery that’s great for kids; a wealth of flora and fauna provides plenty of opportunity for kids to connect with nature through art.
If you’re looking for a way to help your child open up and express themselves, why not try incorporating nature into their art therapy activity? It can be as simple as taking a nature walk and then having your child create a artwork based on what they saw, or getting creative with materials sourced from nature.
There are mountains of research that support the idea that engaging with the arts aids physical, cognitive, linguistic, social and emotional development. And when it comes to the link between art and well-being, the evidence is equally compelling. So why not give it a go? You might be surprised at how well your child responds.
Creative Outlet for Self-Expression
Incorporating nature in children’s art therapy can be beneficial for providing a safe outlet for negative emotions. When you allow children to express themselves by creating art pieces, you are providing them with a healthy way to express their thoughts, feelings and emotions that words may not be able to convey.
Allowing nature to play a role in their art can give children the opportunity to make something out of the materials they find around them. For some, this might mean gathering fallen leaves and branches or collecting materials like stones, shells and flowers. This creative practice can help reduce stress and accelerate development while also giving individuals an outlet to express their emotions and fears without being judged.
Sometimes it is easier for children to express themselves through artwork as it is a less intimidating medium than verbal communication that allows them to step away from an emotion without having to confront it directly. Therefore, incorporating nature into art therapy for children is an encouraging way for them to explore their creativity and express themselves in a safe environment.
Tips for Integrating Nature into Art Therapy in allied health organizations like Spring Forward Family Centre
At Spring Forward Family Centre, we incorporate nature into the art therapy process to create a safe, creative outlet for children to express their emotions and experiences. We use nature-inspired art activities like flower pressing and leaf rubbing, along with outdoor painting and drawing projects. Activities such as these help children to express themselves in a therapeutic way and can be used to build trust between the therapist and the child.
In order to ensure that these activities are implemented successfully, we recommend some tips for integrating nature into art therapy:
- Choose activities that are age appropriate – depending on the age of the child, some activities may be too complex or difficult for them.
- Utilize natural resources – find ways to use items found in nature during healing processes such as using flowers or leaves as stamps or stones as brushes.
- Encourage exploration – let children explore their environment and make observations while they are participating in art therapy.
- Use safety guidelines – when venturing outside into nature make sure all safety precautions are taken such as wearing sunscreen and protective clothing.
These tips can help make sure that art therapy sessions with nature elements are fun and productive for all involved!
Conclusion
When words and verbal communication are not enough to express thoughts, feelings or emotions, exploring nature through creative or artistic expression can provide a different and enriching experience for children, and help to improve their communication skills.
