I started interviewing art therapists to serve as advisors on kit creation in early March. During that time, I spoke with 5 Art Therapists and one Music Therapist to determine the do’ and don’t of kit creation, and to serve as project advisors during this process. I have compiled advice to consider in preparing art kits.
Tips:
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Cut out A LOT of words
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For younger students create age appropriate guided activities
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Not every student likes to be handed a blank canvas – supply ideas and tips for students who are easily overwhelmed.
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The use of color can mean different things to different students.
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When cutting out images use a variety of different things for visual cues.
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Diversity matters – make sure your curation of people images are of a great diversity of ethnicity and ages.
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For school age children, and especially in school environments, be sure to speak with the schools to understand their preferences. Watch that words and images are age appropriate for use in a school environment.
About the Author: Taryn Claassens
Taryn is the Founder of the Mind-Full project and passionate about all things mental health. When she is not advocating you can find her playing the violin, listening to music or making art.
