Art is a significant part of the human experience that helps people explore their creativity and express themselves in unique ways. While we can use art as a form of expression, it can also be utilized as a way of understanding the world and our experiences. Through art, we can tell stories, evoke emotions and connect to others in powerful ways.
As a children’s Bereavement Counselor, I often use art with children who are experiencing grief. One way that art can be helpful in navigating grief is that it assists children in communicating. Children’s ability to communicate can be limited during this developmental period. Their verbal expression may not be fully formed, or developmental factors might complicate how they communicate. Art can open a conversation in a safe way that allows children to naturally express their feelings, concerns and questions.
Art also provides an opportunity for children to remember their loved ones. Children often utilize art to engage in memory work, which helps solidify their memories of their loved one and time shared together. This serves to help children memorialize and honor their loved one.
Caregivers and parents can also use art as a way of connecting with their child in their grief. Doing artwork together, whether it be painting, drawing, sculpting or any other form, creates connection and provides adults a chance to be present with their child and engage in a shared, meaningful experience.
Art can also be an incredible instrument in helping us to manage our mental and emotional well-being. Research has indicated that art can reduce stress, increase self-esteem and improve our ability to cope with difficult emotions. Additionally, engaging in art can give us a sense of control over our lives, which can be a struggle for children who had no control over how and when their loved one died. Making art can provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment; in fact, the act of creation itself can be extremely empowering, giving children the confidence to navigate new challenges.
Lastly, art can be helpful for grieving children because it provides the opportunity for children to have fun and be creative. Children’s universal language is play, and creating art provides recreation. It’s a chance for children to get messy, be colorful, and try new techniques. So bust out a box of crayons, sharpen the color pencils and grab some paper; your next art project awaits!
For a simple activity, try Color My Heart. This activity encourages children to explore and identify their emotions. It also provides a chance to converse about coping skills that can help them manage their difficult feelings. To start, draw a large heart on a piece of paper. Then, select a feelings word list, which can be found online. After discussing and defining each feeling, encourage the child to select five feelings they are experiencing in their grief. After they have selected their five feelings, invite them to assign each feeling a color. Once each feeling has been labeled with a color, the child will color the heart with those colors according to how much they feel that emotion. This activity strengthens children’s vocabulary of emotion; it illustrates to the child and caregiver their current sentiments, and it opens the conversation to discussing coping skills that can help the child manage the uncomfortable feeling.
