Many children, especially the youngest, have a difficult time verbally expressing what they are feeling. Art, movement, vocalization, and journaling are very freeing and much anger, sadness, fear and other feelings can be released from the body without too much explanation. Emotions need to be released at the time they are happening, for when emotions are stored in the body, various forms of tension develop that can carry over into adult life.

Another aspect to consider is child development and creativity. In the book Natural Childhood by John Thomson, he says, “From seven to puberty, feeling is the dominant capacity and education should unfold feeling through artistic activities. At puberty the child begins to look for intellectual challenges.” When a young child is made to focus more on intellectual development than expressing feelings and creativity freely, this can lead to a block in adult life, which may manifest in many ways, such as difficulty with creative self-expression or inability to handle feelings internally or in relating to others.

With that in mind, I have some suggestions for parents to facilitate creativity and expression of feelings. Let your child pick a 3 ring colorful notebook or an art pad for a creative journal. Buy a set of Crapas (oil pastels), NOT crayons. These can be found at any art supply store or Michaels. Also, buy wide felt tipped markers and fine tipped markers-usually both are at 99Ë stores. If the 3 ring binder is the preferred choice, you can add some wide lined paper for older children to use for journaling. This is basic. If your child loves to paint, get a big pad and bottles of white, black, red, blue and yellow tempera (other colors are not necessary). An easel to assemble can be purchased at IKEA for $30. It is also nice to have a TV tray just for the child's use. Pastels are messy but some children love them. Also, plasticene is a great choice for boys. And get a wooden meat tenderizer and see what kind pounding activity ensues! Grey, water- based clay is messy but lovely for self-expression. When you are out shopping, take your child with you and see what the child is attracted to. Stickers, glitter, all sorts of things can be part of the journal process. Save magazines, interesting pictures, ribbons, etc. for collage.

When you see that your child is frustrated in some way or you understand what the emotion is, instead of ASKING what is wrong, indicate that you see the child is experiencing something. Encourage the child to first make a picture or use the clay or plasticene to express feelings. Then see if he/she will share about it with you. If a feeling comes out, you can ask the child to sing it, dance it, make a sound or act it in any way he/she chooses. The point is to let the child express in the way that is natural, not imposed by you. If you do this you will find the child will feel free to confide in you at a later stage of development and not feel stifled by attempting to meet your expectations. NO JUDGEMENT is extremely important. If the anger or sadness or any other feeling is connected to you, stay in a calm space and let your child know you are open to letting him express it, but not act it out in a way that is harmful. Be creative in resolving issues. This may be an opportunity for healing yourself if you did not have this support in your own childhood. Allow yourself freedom to express, too!

I am providing you with a list of directives that you may want to choose from as the situation dictates. Do not give more than 1 or 2 any one day. It is important for the child to feel, experience and express whatever is going on before moving to something else. Keep the directives related if 2 are used when there is a specific issue. Otherwise you can use directives just to gather information about your child. Your child will be pleased you want to know more about his/her true self, which will help in building self-esteem. The child will feel strong, protected, and able to take care of himself or herself emotionally as he/she grows, encouraged by you. Repression leads to adult feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, powerlessness, inhibited expression of feelings and creativity, and more. ã2003


DIRECTIVES:

FEELINGS
© Draw how you feel when you are sad, angry, scared, lonely, helpless, embarrassed, guilty, safe, happy, etc.
© Use a color for a feeling, add words, act it out, make sounds, or role play with parent.
© Draw a Gingerbread figure - let the child fill in where feelings are with colors.

SELF-IMAGE
©Draw how you see yourself, add words, and then draw how you think others see you, add words.
©Draw what you like about yourself and things you do well, add words.
©Draw when you were very happy or didn't feel good about yourself. Tell about it.

RELATIONSHIPS
© Draw the family- (can be drawn as figures, animals or just colors). Tell about who gets along best, worst, who you would like to spend more time with. What would you like to do?
© Draw friends or teachers and tell why you like them or have difficulty with them.
© Draw what you would do as a parent.

DESIRES
© Draw something you would like to change at home, school, in yourself.
© Draw a special wish. Tell about it.
© Draw what you want most from others. Tell about it.

You can use your own imagination to elicit what you would like to know about your child. Never be invasive and push beyond where the child wants to go. If a child says no to a directive, you can see that he/she is being self-protective for some reason. Reassure the child that you do not mean to pry and he/she is free to share or not. Creating a sense of respect and safety will more likely open the child up at a later time.

Books that are helpful are:
The Creative Journal for Children by Lucia Capacchione. A creative guide for parents, teachers and counselors.
Natural Childhood, by John Thomson. The practical and holistic guide for parents of the developing child.
Magical Child by Joseph Pearce-a unique treatise on child development
There are other books that have wonderful creative projects to do with your child in art, science, and nature. Take your lead from your child's interests and educate yourself about the kind of child you are raising.