Connecting and Crafting: Children with Autism

Today I have Kathy Peterson and Barb Dehn as guest experts. They have written a wonderful informational article for me and I am happy to share it with all of my readers. Thank you Kathy and Barb for being a guest on my blog. -Tammy


Connecting and Crafting: Children with Autism

Kathy & Barb

The Craft Practitioners

www.CraftForHealth.com

Children with autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have challenges that most people can’t begin to comprehend. Families learn to adapt to their child’s unique way of communicating with others while at the same time searching for ways to help them learn how to interact with the wider world.

It seems that every month, we learn more about the spectrum of various manifestations of autism. Just as no 2 snowflakes are alike, the same is true of all individuals, whether they have autism or they don’t, and yet, there are some aspects of life with a child with autism that are similar. As parents look for activities that foster their child’s cognitive, social and emotional development, crafting can be a way for children to connect with their families, their peers and their own inner voice while helping them express their innate creativity.

Occupational and art therapists who work with children with Autism have identified some of the challenges that art and crafting may help with, this includes:














Group dynamics

For children who have difficulty connecting with their peers, working together at a craft table can be the first step in the journey of socializing with friends. With crafting, children aren’t required to make eye-to-eye contact, instead sitting “shoulder to shoulder” while moving toward more interactive social situations.

In addition, many children who need to move or roam freely, while becoming comfortable with a new situation or activity, can have flexible craft activities set up on a variety of surfaces, from waist or chest high tables or counters, to tables and chairs or even activities that can be done on a carpet.

Developing Eye Hand Coordination & Fine Motor Skills

From finger painting and crayons to using pencils and brushes, painting and drawing develops fine motor skills and the ability to express thoughts, feelings and perceptions without words. Scissor skills, gluing, beading, stamping and building with popscicle sticks are all activities that help children of all ages work on improving their eye hand coordination

Craft idea: Creating a Collage

This is an activity that can be adapted for anyone regardless of their verbal or social interactions and can be done individually or within a group. Creating a collage is not only an expression of what the person is thinking, but also involves multiple different skills, from tearing photos out of a magazine, to using scissor skills to cut them out, or for other children, choosing photos that have been pre-cut for them. With a collage, any object can be covered completely or partially, and words as well as images can be used.

Working with sensory experiences

The opportunity to touch and work with materials of different textures can be as simple as beading. Starting with cheerios or other cereal, working up to using cotton balls, buttons, flowers, twisted fabric or spools. Eventually, children can learn to use found objects or make their own beads from clay or other objects that they can string into simple and more complex jewelry, wall hangings, purses or other objects.

Improving verbal communication

Children who are pre-verbal have always been immersed in crafting, from finger painting to gluing objects on paper. Many people are not particularly verbal while crafting, as their hands and minds are occupied creating. In these scenarios, children who are withdrawn and still developing their ability to communicate verbally are still able to be part of a larger group as they develop more and more communication skills both one on one and in groups.

Children will be listening to instructions, looking at examples of what the finished work might look like, and talking when they’re ready about the process or their completed work.

Increasing Attention Spans

Crafting is perfectly suited to help children develop longer attention spans, as children can start by gluing one bead on a craft box, and working up to gluing many objects on treasure box, eventually building their own box. Likewise, children who become overwhelmed with too much stimuli can start with a limited number of choices and work their way up to multiple options in the same family of craft projects.

Crafting idea: Their own Crafting Supply Kit

Providing a child with their own special craft supply kit with age appropriate supplies as well as # of compartments that don’t overwhelm them provides them with a sense of security and predictability, while enhancing creativity and fostering self-expression.

The child can decorate their kit, add supplies, sort them, arrange by color or texture, and get used to touching various types of materials, from clay, beads, paper, wood and cloth to objects from their environment, be it bottle caps or leaves.

Fostering imagination and creativity

Because there is no right and wrong with all forms of crafting, people can be free to express themselves however they like, and be as able as anyone else. Children who may think concretely and need more experience developing their imagination and creativity will gain a sense of mastery and accomplishment from working on projects large and small and from finishing and displaying their hand made work.

Craft idea: Craft Walks

One activity that may benefit the child is a craft walk, to help them gather objects from around their home or neighborhood to add to their Craft Kit, and use in various projects. Children who need more sensory stimulation, will benefit from touching leaves, flowers, acorns, pebbles, buttons, fabric and every other object they encounter. They can sort and place their found treasures in their kit or incorporate them into their projects.

Crafting is a way for parents and educators to connect with children with autism and other conditions that are challenging. There are numerous benefits that also help the child work on developing the skills they need to live happy and fulfilled lives.

www.CraftForHealth.com

www.KathyPeterson.com

www.NurseBarb.com

Kathy and Barb are always seeking guests who want to share their art and story about craft therapy too. (with links back the artists site) If you are interested, the link to their site is below.

Barb Dehn NP, RN.

Kathy Peterson

FOUNDER: www.CraftForHealth.com

Design Expert, TV Host/Spokesperson, and Best Selling Author

WATCH KATHY on LIFETIME TV M-F on The Balancing Act TV series 7 a.m. ET/PT