Helping Children With Learning
Disabilities Get Involved in the Arts
Picture the traditional model classroom: a grid of desks, a whiteboard, and a teacher reading from a lesson book. Not all kids are going to thrive in that setting, especially if they have a learning disability. Some common learning disabilities include dyslexia, ADHD, and dysgraphia (which affects someone’s ability to write), among others. Often, kids with learning disabilities are smart and imaginative, but they can’t express themselves linearly. That’s where art comes in. Kids can sometimes draw images, make sculptures, or act out their feelings in ways that are far more expressive than if they express themselves through writing. So here are some tips and advice to nudge them in that direction.
Learning Styles
At the outset, it’s worth pointing out that not only do people—kids and adults―have learning disabilities, but they learn in all kinds of different ways. Visual learners, for one, understand concepts best when they’re presented in charts, graphics, or displays. Auditory learners retain information when it’s spoken to them. (They also recite phrases and lessons to absorb them.) Other students learn through reading and writing. Once they write an idea down, it’s as if they’ve etched it in their memories. Finally, kinesthetic learners flourish in an active, hands-on, or participatory education. And while it’s not recognized as widely as the other learning models, artwork spurs innovation and learning retention.
Create a Playroom
If your child likes art but doesn’t like school, your impulse might be to make him double down on schoolwork. But to encourage his schoolwork, it may be a good idea to create a playroom for him. That way, he has a space to be creative, which will boost his self-esteem. Plus, it will allow him to think of himself as smart and talented, rather than label himself “bad at school.” Here is some advice on how to deck out this hobby room:
- Install erasable surfaces on which your kid can draw, as if it’s a large canvas.
- Make sure there’s shelving and cupboards, so that the space doesn’t quickly become messy.
- Buy protective clothing like aprons, smocks, and gloves, depending on what mischief he gets into.
Don’t shy away from putting in effort to get this playroom right. Providing an expressive outlet for your kid will allow him to adapt his talents to his schoolwork.
Textile Arts and Sewing
Another artistic medium that you might encourage your child to try are sewing and textile arts like knitting and embroidery. You can teach kids to sew by hand or by machine, which is an intricate, complex process. Once your child is able to weave fabric together to make a beautiful product, he’ll probably enjoy sewing even more. This activity is not only fun, it also fine-tunes hand-eye coordination. Sewing has been shown to foster creativity, boost confidence, and teach kids patience and discipline.
Other Arts
If your child never takes to sewing, fear not. There are a range of other art forms that you can encourage him to try. For instance, drawing and painting teach young learners shapes and rudimentary math skills. Music is full of lessons about rhythm, notes, and pitch—lessons that usually stick with you through life. Dance develops kids’ coordination, improves their motor control, provides them with an upbeat exercise, and helps them distinguish their directions (right and left). Theater, meanwhile, introduces kids to historical and literary figures, themes, and storylines. Plus, it encourages them to figure out how to work with a cast of other actors to make a piece of art together.
Some kids don’t thrive in school because they have a learning disability. But they may also be quite intelligent and talented. One of the worst things that can happen to them in their formative years is that their self-confidence suffers, and then they stop liking going to school. So nurture your children’s creativity. Instilling in them a love of the art that they’re drawn to may encourage a passion in them that will guide them on into the future.
Lillian Brooks
Hi there! I’m trying to spread the word about the benefits ofarts education and activities for children with learning disabilities. From building confidence to developing motor skills, it’s important that parents know that the arts can and should play a vital role in their child’s development.