Art Therapy Force presents the video series “Creative Support Practices” aimed at helping you spend quality time with a child and provide support. These videos offer simple ways to use art therapy for those without special skills or hobbies but want to start doing something with a child. Collaborating and creating things by hand is a wonderful way to bond with a child and support them through challenging life situations.

We are promoting an approach to art that can heal and assist!

The Advent Calendar

Advent calendars originated from Germany and were used to create the Christmas spirit. By opening a new compartment every day leading up to Christmas, a child would receive a small gift and feel the approaching holiday.

We suggest using an advent calendar to “ground” and create a sense of stability for a child. You can create such a calendar for any number of days, counting down together with the child to the next important holiday or event, which could be Christmas, birthdays, New Year’s, or even a planned trip – anything significant for the child.

The video credits read:

• Scriptwriter – Yuliia Ran
• Actors and Actresses – students and mentors of the WHAT IF Creative School: Kyrylo Lysetsksyi, Diana-Solomiya Lovcha, Kateryna Haran, Kateryna Maksymchuk, Yulia Stepanova, Vlad Dmytruk, Natalia Shapovalova, Yaroslav Voitenko.
• Voiceover – Natalia Shapovalova
• Technical Support – Mykhailo Tulskyi
• Filming, Editing – WHAT IF CREATIVE STUDIO

Fairy Tale Art Therapy

One of the methods of art therapy involves speaking through fairy tales and stories created together with the child.

• To start, gather your tools: markers, pencils, paper for creating the tale and its characters. Also, use favorite toys or figures. Parents, your special task here is to write down the story with the child, so listen attentively and don’t miss even the smallest details!
• Prepare for improvisation: do a few physical exercises to relax your body and mind. We’ll show some practices that can serve as an example. Now, let’s get to work!
• Create the main hero or heroine, then their opponent. Next, decide where the events will take place. We suggest setting the events in a distant imaginary world or in ancient times, helping the child to distance themselves from a real situation that might resemble a traumatic experience.
• What problem will the tale’s characters face? How will they defeat the opponent? How will the hero or heroine overcome the evil? It’s important for the ending to be fair and for the evil to be defeated.

You can share the fairy tales or images of your heroes and heroines with us by mentioning @arttherapyforce in your social media posts or by sending us a message.

Thank you for creating this video:

• Idea and text – Victoria Shvydko
• Videography and visual effects – Victoria Dziuziuk (with Maria Mykytenko)
• Video editing – Rostyslav Kuzik
• Voiceover – Vasyl Sydorko
• Sound engineer – Volodymyr Pomirko
• Actor and actress on screen – Andrii Kravchuk and Svitlana Iliuk

Clay Therapy

In this video from the “Creative Support Practices” series, we’ll delve into clay therapy.

You’ve likely seen advertisements for workshops and events teaching how to work with clay. And it truly works!

People have been in contact with clay for centuries. Perhaps that’s why we find such joy in using clay pots, plates, or cups in our daily lives.

Invite your child to create their unique item from clay and join in the creation process! Working with your hands alongside your child can help you talk about what’s on their mind and what they’re thinking about right now.

Yes, a special kiln is needed to process the finished product. You can inquire about its availability at nearby art centers or studios that work with clay in your city. The key thing is the process of interaction between the child and the clay, along with your involvement.

Continue communicating with your child after the crafting session, as it’s important not to abruptly exit the safe space you’ve created together.

Thank you for creating this video:

• Video editing – Maria Mykytenko and Rostyslav Kuzik
• Animation – Maria Mykytenko
• Voiceover – Vasyl Sydorko
• Sound engineer – Volodymyr Pomirko

Music Therapy

Music therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that helps individuals improve their mental health and overall well-being through music.

Three types of this approach can be simplified and used with a child to improve their emotional and psychological state:

• Active music therapy involves actively engaging with musical material. You can play musical instruments together with the child, create musical rhythms using various objects, or simply sing your favorite songs together.
• Integrative therapy allows you to use any activity or art form to accompany selected music. Encourage the child to engage in their favorite activity: drawing, dancing, or miming along to their favorite song or melody.
• Receptive music therapy is another form of music therapy that is entirely passive. It involves simply listening to different musical compositions to improve one’s mood.

For more information, watch our video.

Thank you for creating this video:

• Text – Victoria Shvydko
• Video shooting and editing – Victoria Dziuziuk
• Voice, recording, therapy – Pavlo Hots

Drawing

This simple form of creative activity is widely used in art therapy. Even just drawing will help you spend quality and meaningful time with a child, bringing you closer and offering support.

In art therapy, achieving therapeutic effects is more about the process than the result. During this process, the child experiences fears, desires, and needs, creating their own story. Art therapy reduces anxiety and contributes to emotional balance. When exercises are done with a family or a group of children, it promotes a sense of unity, increasing trust and mutual understanding among family/group members.

What you’ll need:

• Sheets of paper or drawing paper
• Drawing materials: pencils/markers/paints, etc.

Guidelines for adults:

• Let the child choose their preferred color for drawing.
• Don’t advise, undervalue their choice, or try to replace it with a “better” option. The choice of color belongs to the child!
• Avoid directly asking the child to “draw their fear,” “draw what scares you,” or “draw what you’re afraid of.” Such prompts often lead the child to draw what they think adults want to see rather than their true fears.
• If a drawing scares or displeases the child, suggest turning the paper over to a blank side.

Exercises you can offer the child or do together:

• Draw your favorite thing.
• Blindfolded drawing.
• Bring an object to life through drawing.

These exercises are suitable for children from 5 years old, adolescents, and adults. For more information on exercises, additional details, and advice, watch the video!

Thank you for creating this video:

• Scriptwriter – Yuliya Ran.
• Actors and Actresses – students and mentors of the ‘What If’ creative school: Kyrylo Lysets’kyi, Diana-Solomiia Lovcha, Kataryna Haran, Kateryna Maksymchuk, Yuliya Stepova, Vlad Dmytruk, Natalia Shapovalova, Yaroslav Voytenko.
• Voiceover – Natalia Shapovalova.
• Technical Support – Mykhailo Tulskyi.
• Filming, Editing – ‘What If Creative Studio’.