The Art of
A
sk any parent what they want most for their child and their answer will usually be “Happiness”. But in an ever-changing world, particularly during a global pandemic, how do we encourage our children to embrace their wellbeing and explore ways to be conscious of improving it? One simple, fun and low-cost way to do this is through creative expression. For many years now, we have known the benefits of a creative pursuit for wellbeing and enjoyment; whether it be painting, singing, dance, or indulging in “creative mindfulness” projects – such as colouring books, tapestries, meditation and craft. Tapping into your creative spirit can be a calming way, especially for children and young people, to express yourself and communicate.
However, in times of uncertainty, creative expression is also a great technique to start a conversation or share an idea that might otherwise be hard to verbalise. To help you explore creative mindfulness and wellbeing with the little people in your life, the Frankston Arts Centre team has suggested these easy activities – perfect to do one on one, or even as a family. During 2020, we have all been stretched and challenged. Open conversation and positive connection will always be beneficial to building healthy relationships. 38
Peninsula Kids – Summer 2020/21
MAKE A GRATITUDE JOURNAL A gratitude journal is a lovely way to be thankful for something or someone, or to articulate a positive interaction that day. Younger children might need an adult to help them write things down while older children can do this independently.
Pick out a journal that looks appealing, or decorate a cheap exercise book with textas, pencils or magazine pictures.
efore writing or drawing in your gratitude journal, choose a ritual B to repeat beforehand each time. You might play a favourite song, sing a little rhyme, or take a moment to deeply breathe and relax.
Express Gratitude
• Think about something positive that happened in your day… it could be as simple as enjoying the sun on the walk to school, playing with friends, or getting a good result on a project. It might be good to talk about this first with someone you trust! They might be able to help you articulate how you feel. • On a page in your journal, write about what you are thankful for or draw an image of how it made you feel. If you’re not a confident drawer, you could find a picture in a magazine depicting the feeling. You could make a collage of images – or even use colours to make an abstract drawing of the colours the moment made you feel. You could write a poem or use lyrics from your favourite song!