The arts are versatile; they go beyond being what hangs in museums.

The arts can include textile arts and sewing, as well as dancing, and there’s an experimental component that allows anyone to try it.

Helping kids with learning disabilities get into the arts is a powerful way of challenging stigmas and demonstrating novel creativity.

Here are five fun art activities to try.

Do Some Dancing

Dancing has also been shown to have a positive effect on memory. This is a good reason it can be beneficial to some children with certain learning disabilities. You can enroll your child in dance classes or try some online dance courses. Classes offer a social opportunity, although online courses might help your child if they are uncomfortable with public classes.

When your child is first starting off, reassure them that it’s okay to make mistakes and that dancing can be fun. Dancing is a nice way to combine social interests with something that is beneficial for self-confidence. Plus, it’s a valuable life skill that will come in handy later in life.

Make a Little Music

According to BBC, research has even shown that music might be a non-pharmacological treatment that could be used for people with attention or focus problems. Making music with other people is one of the most useful ways to get involved. There might be classes through the school your child attends. You could use online resources to help your child get into it. When you’re working together with someone else to make music, it can be a powerful lesson.

Sew It Up

Sewing and textile arts have been used for tens of thousands of years, and are one of the most influential inventions in human history. Sewing and textile arts require a fine attention to detail. The patterns or designs associated with these arts also has a practical component. If you’re new to sewing, check out these guides to get you started.

An article in Wired explored the therapeutic benefits of textile art, as well as the critical thinking involved. Some kinds of sewing and textile arts provide a unique niche where science and art intersect. This can be encouraging for children with learning disabilities, as well as dispelling some of the myths about being “left-brained” or “right-brained.”

Photography

Another kind of art that is well-suited for children with learning disabilities is photography. Research has shown that photography can be used to help students find a way to express their experiences with learning disabilities. Photography can make education a more inclusionary experience. One reason that photography might be appealing is that it doesn’t have a large barrier to start doing it. You don’t need anything fancy; you just need a simple camera. If all you’ve got is a smartphone, that can be a good starting point. You can worry about acquiring editing software, classes, and other skills. Getting into it initially is fantastic.

Ceramics

For kids who want a literal hands-on experience, ceramics might be one of the best options. Experience shows that many children with learning disabilities have experienced tremendous benefits by trying ceramics. Ceramics can be fun, messy, and educational. Your child can learn how to create new things, as well as learn patience with themselves.

Research has shown that atypical attention patterns are associated with increased divergent thinking, higher levels of creativity, and unique idea generation. The arts are an excellent way to harness this creativity and help your child channel that into both expressing themselves, as well as their schoolwork. It may take some time and a lot of patience, but keep looking for a good activity that matches your child’s personality.

The following is copied from an email I received the other day from homeschool.com that was sponsored by Gulf Shores. The email began with the following paragraph: 

Combine a family vacation with a host of active learning opportunities. In Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, design your days to explore nature, history, naval, scientific or cultural activities to spark your children’s sense of wonder, discovery, and enlightenment. 

The remainder of the email outlined an itinerary complete with links to points of interest, cultural activities, and historic sites in the area. After reading through the email one of my first thoughts was that this was great for homeschoolers who live in the area, but what about everyone else? Then I realized that if nothing else this would make a great template that anyone could use to customize a learning vacation for their own area. Read More→

Writing a book report can be a lot of fun. It gives you a chance to read a new book and then tell your teacher and friends what you thought about it.

Here are some of the things you need to include in your book report:  Read More→