The use of art activities with children provides important opportunities for self-expression, said Dr Anderson a visiting Fulbright specialist and scholar from United States. "There is a healing aspect to all artistic expression. Thus, art should be used as a powerful tool for healing, said Dr Anderson while addressing a workshop conducted by USEFP on Thursday.
She said that it has recognised world-wide as one main branch of art, Art as Therapy. Though, it is not possible to have enough trained art therapists to help children traumatised by earthquakes, traumas, and cyclones. It is possible to train teachers, caregivers and parents to utilise art activities to help these children express their fears, and emotional reactions to what has happened, she added.
The workshop included specific ways that art activities can help children deal with trauma. Hands on activities included a range of tasks from simple drawing on the ground to more complex, such as using markers, coloured paper and other papers.
She stressed the significance of all the steps used in the workshop to help children express their feeling and trauma happened to them. The workshop included hands-on practice as well as lecture. The second session of workshop will be run (today) Friday. The workshop was attended by representatives from various local NGO working in this area.-PR
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