1. 1. Art Therapy for Children with Down Syndrome Balmes, Joie Iryll T. Tan, Angelica Rose L. BEEd-SpEd 3
2. 2. What is Down Syndrome? It is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in extra genetic material from chromosome 21. This genetic disorder, which varies in severity, causes lifelong intellectual disability and developmental delays, and in some people it causes health problems. A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm - although each person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees, or not at all.
3. 3. What is Art Therapy? Is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve a persons physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It can achieve different things for different people. It can be used for counseling by therapists, healing, treatment, rehabilitation, psychotherapy, and in the broad sense of the term, it can be used to massage ones inner-self in a way that may provide the individual with a deeper understanding of him or herself. It is sometimes called creative arts therapy or expressive arts therapy, encourages people to express and understand emotions through artistic expression and through the creative process. The goal is to improve or restore a clients functioning and his or her sense of personal well-being.
4. 4. Why do we need to use Art Therapy? As with most any therapy, art as therapy is generally used as a treatment for something usually as a way to improve ones emotional state or mental well-being. Expressive arts therapy doesnt have to be used only as a treatment though. It can be used to relieve stress or tension, or it can be used as a mode of self-discovery. Many people can stand to use some sort of creative outlet.
5. 5. When do we use Art Therapy? Art therapy can be used to treat a wide range of mental disorders and psychological distress. In many cases, it might be used in conjunction with other psychotherapy techniques such as group therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some situations in which art therapy might be utilized include: Children with learning disabilities Adults experiencing severe stress Children suffering from behavioral or social problems at school or at home People experiencing mental health problems Individuals suffering from a brain injury Children or adults who have experienced a traumatic event
6. 6. People with Down syndrome may find it difficult to speak clearly and to express their thoughts and feelings effectively. Many adults have a difficult time telling others about their personal thoughts and feelings even when they convey strong emotions through facial expressions and body language. (Cohen, Nadel & Madnick, 2002, p. 224).
7. 7. Art therapy is a psychotherapeutic service and form of expressive therapy that gives kids the chance to participate in creative, nonverbal expression through the use of art materials. In other words, art therapy communicates when words simply cannot.
8. 8. The following troubleshooting tips to offer you as much success in Art Therapy: 1. Getting the child to start making art The solution: Art making should be a pleasant experience, so make sure to start with a fun activity that can be completed easily. Scribbling is the best way for a child to practice fine motor and pre-literacy skills, as well as art making. Creating an art "starter sheet" for your child will decrease the anxiety and intimidation they may feel when faced with a blank sheet of paper. A "starter sheet" is essentially a piece of paper that you start by placing magazine cut-outs or drawn items for your child to complete on their own. Their inspiration and fun can begin quickly and without apprehension!
9. 9. The following troubleshooting tips to offer you as much success in Art Therapy: 2. Getting kids to stay on the paper The solution: Using a tray with a lip can create a boundary and automatically make it easier for kids to control materials inside the space. You might already have an item in your house that can service this purpose, such as a cookie sheet or even the top of a gift box. Lining paper on a tray, sheet or box will keep your child working inside the boundaries of the object and help them become more aware of the paper limits.
10. 10. The following troubleshooting tips to offer you as much success in Art Therapy: 3. Getting kids to stay inside the lines The solution: There are several tricks you can use to create boundaries, including lining the borders of your paper with Wikki Stix or Bendaroos (brightly-colored, non-toxic wax sticks that can be sculpted and adhered to basically anything). These waxy wonders will create a small barrier to prevent your child from veering off of the paper. If your child gets too distracted by the bright sticks, squeeze thin lines of Elmer's glue all around the edges and let dry to create a clear, invisible boundary. Don't have time for glue to dry? Use colorful masking tape around the edges instead!
11. 11. The following troubleshooting tips to offer you as much success in Art Therapy: 4. Getting kids to look at their work The solution: Use a large piece of foil or sand paper as the art surface. Kids can paint, draw with crayons, or collage on these surfaces for a little extra sensory input when making art. More options include using a stand-up table mirror, table easel, or an actual window in your home. Window crayons, window chalk, or window markers can be used on these surfaces and your child will love drawing on their own reflection or on outside scenery.
12. 12. The following troubleshooting tips to offer you as much success in Art Therapy: 5. Getting kids to touch sticky stuff The solution: Contact paper or Saran Wrap. These are great transition materials and your child can try to place pieces of tissue paper or magazine pictures onto these different textures. Getting their fingers to occasionally tap down on these paper substitutes will help ease them into the feel and texture of sticky substances. Helping them peel foam stickers to decorate an art piece can also expose them to "the sticky" while maintaining the fun!
13. 13. The following troubleshooting tips to offer you as much success in Art Therapy: 6. Getting kids to touch squishy stuff The solution: For getting kids more comfortable with paint, try helping them get used to touching the squishy texture while keeping their hands clean. First, squeeze paint onto a large surface of Saran Wrap, then top with another layer of Saran Wrap. Now your child can use their hands on the paint texture without getting dirty! Still experiencing some tactile defensiveness? Try using a brush or stamps on the Saran Wrap surface for beginners. Kids might eventually take to rollers, which offer movement, sensory stimulation and fun.
14. 14. The following troubleshooting tips to offer you as much success in Art Therapy: 7. Getting the child to complete an art activity The solution: Depending on attention span, alternate the art activity with a sensory activity such as sand tray play or squeezing some Model Magic. Some kids simply can't sit, so my focus becomes increasing their attention span through a non-conventional mode of art making. In those cases, tape a large mural paper on a wall outside or use gravel on the ground as a surface. You can also tape a large piece of paper underneath a table while the child lies on a mat or foam wedge as they paintlike the next Michelangelo!
15. 15. The following troubleshooting tips to offer you as much success in Art Therapy: 8. Introducing the child to art images The solution: Exposing the child to other art is a great first step to creating and developing new visual imagery in the brain. Laminated museum art cards are perfect to introducing kids to new colors and images. Children also love the Touch The Art Series by Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo, board books that incorporate famous works of art into a story. Every picture has texture touch spaces to make each page interactive and fun!
16. 16. Lets watch a VIDEO! https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_o3i6y5kojc
17. 17. SOURCES: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/down- syndrome/basics/definition/con-20020948 http://www.ndss.org/Down-Syndrome/What-Is-Down-Syndrome/ http://www.arttherapyblog.com/what-is-art-therapy/#.VQOyy_mUeSo http://www.arttherapy.org/upload/whatisarttherapy.pdf http://psychology.about.com/od/psychotherapy/f/art-therapy.htm file:///C:/Users/Ultrabook/Downloads/Masters%20Paper%20Lacie%20West.pdf http://www.lovethatmax.com/2011/11/art-ideas-for-kids-with-special-needs.html