Children often experience emotions that feel too big to put into words. Fear, worry, anger, or sadness can bubble up unexpectedly, leaving both children and parents unsure how to respond. This is where art therapy comes in. Through a creative approach that helps children express what they feel inside and learn to manage their emotions.
Why Art Therapy Works?
Art therapy is not just about creating something nice. It is a structured way for children to use creative materials like paints, clay, or crayons to express thoughts and feelings that might be too difficult to say out loud (McDonald, Holttum, & Drey, 2019). For children struggling with anxiety, this can be life-changing. According to the British Association of Art Therapists (2023), art therapy allows children to externalise their worries and explore emotions in a safe, supportive environment. For example, imagine a child who feels anxious about starting school. Instead of trying to explain their feelings with words alone, they might draw or create a face showing how they feel. The therapist can then talk with the child about these feelings, helping them identify and name emotions in a non-threatening way. This combination of creativity and reflection gives children tools to understand their emotions.
Connecting Art Therapy to the Early Years Learning Framework
The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) emphasises nurturing children’s emotional well-being and supporting their growth as confident, capable individuals (Victorian Government, 2023). Art therapy directly supports several EYLF outcomes:
- Outcome 1 – Children have a strong sense of identity: Through art, children explore their own emotions and personal experiences. Activities like creating a “feelings collage” allow children to see their emotions reflected in colours and shapes, building self-awareness and confidence.
- Outcome 3 – Children have a strong sense of well-being: Art therapy provides a safe space to process big feelings. When a child paints or sculpts how they feel in the moment, they are practicing emotional regulation and learning that feelings can be understood and managed (McDonald et al., 2019).
- Outcome 5 – Children are effective communicators: Art offers children a way to communicate experiences they might struggle to put into words. For example, a child might draw a scenario that worries them, allowing the therapist or parent to talk about the feelings and develop coping strategies together.
What a Session Might Look Like?
Art therapy sessions are typically a blend of guided and child-led activities. Some examples include:
- Emotional Check-In: Children draw or create a face showing how they are feeling, helping them externalise emotions and share them with the therapist.
- Play-dough Emotions: Children use play-dough to shape their emotions. Manipulating the play-dough can be calming and gives a physical way to process feelings like anger, sadness, or worry.
- Free Art Making: Children are provided with materials to create something that expresses how they feel. This open-ended activity encourages self-expression and reflection while giving children a sense of control over their emotions.
Each activity provides children with a safe outlet for their emotions, supports self-expression, and reinforces their sense of agency.
Why It Matters
For parents and teachers, understanding that a child’s big feelings are valid and worth exploring is crucial. Art therapy gives children the vocabulary to express their emotions non-verbally while teaching them strategies to manage anxiety. It aligns beautifully with the EYLF’s focus on holistic development, belonging, and well-being, making it a valuable tool in both therapeutic and educational settings.
In short, when words fail, art can speak. Through guided creativity, children learn not just to express their feelings, but to understand, manage, and grow from them.
References
British Association of Art Therapists. (2023). Anxiety and art therapy. https://baat.org/publications/insight/summer-2023-24/anxiety-and-art-therapy/
McDonald, A., Holttum, S., & Drey, N. S. J. (2019). Primary-school-based art therapy: Exploratory study of changes in children’s social, emotional and mental health. International Journal of Art Therapy, 24(3), 125-138.
Victorian Government. (2023). Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework. https://www.vic.gov.au/victorian-early-years-learning-development-framework-veyldf
