Trauma-Informed Art Activities for Early Childhood

Book excerpt: Why Art & Trauma? By making their own choices as they engage in sensory art experiences, children gain confidence, release stress, express emotions, and develop critical-thinking skills. Art offers a unique opportunity for children to safely experiment with the physical world and re-wire their brains to reduce the negative effects of trauma, all while learning to identify as creative thinkers. This highly illustrated and easy-to-use resource supports trauma-informed work with children ages 3-8. It delves into both the theory and practice of therapeutic art and includes 21 original art lessons and 60 art techniques, all presented visually for ease of use. Both text and illustrations demonstrate how to create a safe, non-retraumatizing environment for children to experience safety, connection and calm. Ideal for implementing into classroom environments, including preschools, kindergarten, early primary grades, afterschool programs, child counselling centers and community-based youth programs, this professional resource is perfectly adaptable for a variety of educational and therapeutic contexts.