Exploring a Child’s Feelings Through Art

• Supports home learning

Figuring out how a child is feeling and what they need is often one of the most puzzling elements of being the parent or caregiver of a small child. The primary years see a lot of development going on at a fast rate, but the issue of young children communicating their needs and emotions is a common one. Children can feel frustrated at not to being able to express themselves, and adults share this frustration in not being able to understand. Children can gain a new channel of communication by exploring feelings through art.

At first glance, a lot of the art small children turn out can seem quite random and lacking in form, but this is not to suggest that they are meaningless. The psychology of art is a complex field of study, and even the most abstract of artworks carry clues – both conscious and unconscious – about the emotions of the artist and can be interpreted. The freedom of creativity that art offers suit it perfectly to children of primary age, and allows you to get to know them a little better, too.