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Every time I pick up Maggie from school I inspect her art folder. She has extremely limited use of her hands and she can’t draw or paint at this point. We’re working on it, but she can’t. So, every time I open her folder, it is with some sadness because I know this is all I’m going to find.
Or this…
And then, one day…
I’m sure she did this with the teacher’s hands moving Maggie’s hands. I’m sure, even so, it took a ton of concentration on her part to even allow her hands to be moved to make something like this.
But in the end, there was art in her folder and on that day, she was just like all the other kids in her class. And now, every time I inspect her art folder, I’ll be like a kid too, curious about what surprise might await me.
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I used an art therapist for about a year. It was an eye opening experience. I too struggled with the lack of hand use and questioned whether this was a good use of my time and money. Remember art can be about the process not the result. Weekly they spent some time playing in different textures but the therapist also spent time drawing Sophie’s face and describing her features, spending time looking in the mirror to gain a sense of self. The therapist would draw quick sketches to have Sophie make eye choices to direct a much bigger story board that they were creating. They played with a variety of objects from nature to scratch away paint. If Sophie needs a break school will have the other students share about their art. Lastly fun art tools, dot markers, gel sticks and so much more to be found not only at craft stores but check out sensory based activities and tools on the web.
Thanks Cathy. I haven’t heard of an art therapist. It’s a real struggle to get Maggie to sit and do anything like Art without severe hand over hand prompting. She’s just now getting into it, though. So, maybe it’s time.