Working Creatively with Children and Adolescents.

Working creatively with Children and Adolescents, as well as some adults, can help to improve their communication skills.

In this article I found by Astral Academy, it explains why. I hope you find it as helpful as I did.

We will look at:

·        Why communication skills matter

·        What creative therapy means

·        Benefits of creative therapy

·        Creative therapy techniques that improve communication skills.  

Effective communication skills are important in almost every aspect of life and can lead to better relationships, stronger careers, and increased productivity. Good communication skills allow someone to get their message across clearly and effectively, whilst poor communication skills can lead to misunderstandings, frustration and conflict.

In a work setting, good communication skills can help your child build strong relationships with their colleagues and clients, which can lead to better collaboration and increased productivity. In personal relationships, these skills can help them better understand and connect with others, leading to stronger and more fulfilling relationships. Overall, effective communication skills are essential for success in one's personal and professional life. A major contributing factor to strong communication skills is the use of creative therapy.

Creative therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses various forms of self-expression, such as art, music, writing, and movement, to help individuals explore their thoughts and emotions. The goal of creative therapy is to help individuals understand and work through difficult emotions and experiences, as well as to promote personal growth and self-awareness.

Creative therapies can be used to help people of all ages with a wide range of psychological and emotional issues. For example, art therapy may be used to help children who have experienced trauma express their feelings in a safe and nonverbal way. Similarly, music therapy may be used to help individuals with depression improve their mood. Creative therapies can also be used to help individuals with developmental disorders, such as autism, improve their communication and social skills.

It is important to note that creative therapies are usually provided by therapists who have specialized training in a particular modality (art, music, writing, or movement) and have a strong understanding of the underlying psychological principles and techniques.

Creative therapy works by allowing the individual to explore and process difficult feelings, thoughts, and experiences. It can help individuals connect with their emotions and inner selves, gain insight and clarity into their problems, and develop new ways of thinking and behaving. It is often provided in addition to traditional talk therapy, which allows one to explore and understand different aspects of themselves in a unique and holistic way. This can help reduce resistance to therapy and increase the chances of making lasting changes. It can be beneficial for children in a variety of ways. Some of the main benefits include:

1. Emotional expression: 

Children may have difficulty expressing their emotions verbally, but creative activities such as drawing, painting, and sculpting can help them communicate their thoughts and feelings in a nonverbal way. These activities provide many avenues of self-expression for them.

2. Stress relief: 

Creative activities can provide an outlet for children to release pent-up emotions and tension, which can help to reduce stress and anxiety.

3. Self-esteem and confidence: 

When children create something that they are proud of, it can boost their self-esteem and confidence. This can be particularly beneficial for children who may struggle with self-doubt or insecurity.

4. Problem-solving: 

Many creative activities require children to think creatively and come up with solutions to problems. This can help develop problem-solving skills and critical thinking abilities. These activities also enable a child to step out of their comfort zone and think of things from different perspectives. 

5. Socialization: 

Creative therapy can also be a great way for children to socialise and interact with others. Group art or music therapy sessions can be a fun and safe way for children to bond with their peers and build relationships. Creative therapy can also provide a child with a safe environment where they can meet other kids who think or behave like them.

6. Learning and Understanding: 

Being involved in creative activities allows kids to understand and learn the process of creative thinking and experience the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. They develop fine motor skills, their spatial awareness improves, and they learn to be patient and persistent.

It's important to remember that creative therapy can be tailored to meet the specific needs and interests of each child and can be a fun and engaging way for children to work through any challenges they may be facing. Some creative therapy techniques that help kids come out of their shells and improve their communication skills are: 

Art Therapy.

Children can use art materials to express themselves and communicate their thoughts and feelings through drawings, paintings, and other forms of art.  One creative art therapy technique for developing children's communication skills is the use of storytelling through art. This can involve having the child create illustrations to accompany a story they have written or verbally shared, or creating a collaborative story through a series of drawings created by the child and therapist together. This can help the child express themselves more effectively through visual means, as well as provide a non-threatening way to explore and communicate their thoughts and feelings.

Play therapy

Play therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses play as a medium for children to express their thoughts and feelings. It allows children to communicate in a non-verbal and non-threatening way and can be especially helpful for children who have difficulty communicating verbally. During play therapy, a child is typically given access to a variety of play materials, such as dolls, action figures, art supplies, and games, and is encouraged to play in any way that they wish. The therapist observes and interacts with the child as they play, using the child's play to gain insight into their thoughts and feelings.

Through play therapy, children can learn to express themselves, communicate their needs and wants, develop social skills, and learn problem-solving strategies. It can also help them process and cope with difficult experiences or emotions, such as grief, trauma, or anxiety.

It is often used to help children who have experienced trauma, have behavioral problems, have difficulty with communication and social interaction, or have experienced some mental health diagnosis as well. Overall, play therapy is beneficial for children for a wide range of issues and can help them develop their communication and other life skills.

Drama Therapy

Drama therapy is a creative therapy technique that uses the medium of role-playing and storytelling to help children and adolescents develop their communication skills. Drama therapy can also help children develop social skills, such as cooperation and empathy, as well as improve their self-esteem and self-awareness. Techniques used in drama therapy for kids include role-playing, improvisation, and storytelling, as well as the use of puppets, masks, and other props. It is usually led by a licenced drama therapist who is trained to facilitate these activities to reach specific therapeutic goals.

Music Therapy

Children can use music to communicate their emotions and experiences and to improve their listening and verbal skills. Creative music therapy can help children develop their communication skills in a number of ways. One key way is by using music as a nonverbal means of expression. Children who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally can use music to communicate their emotions and thoughts. Additionally, music therapy can help children develop their social skills by encouraging them to interact with others through musical activities. This can help children learn to take turns, share, and work together. 

Music therapy can also help children develop their language skills by incorporating verbalization and vocabulary building into therapy sessions. Overall, the use of music therapy can provide children with an enjoyable and non-threatening way to develop their communication skills in a way that traditional speech therapy cannot.

Dance Therapy

Dance therapy can help children develop their communication skills in a number of ways. Some of the keyways that dance therapy can help children improve their communication skills include helping them become more aware of their own emotions and communicate them more effectively through body language and facial expressions. Through mirroring and partner work, children learn to understand the emotions and behaviours of others and express them through movement. This can help them to develop empathy and to communicate more effectively with others.

Dance therapy often involves group work and partner work, which can help children learn how to work effectively with others and to communicate effectively with their peers, thus inculcating in them the spirit of teamwork and cooperation.