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.

Image Courtesy Pexels

Every parent wants their child to do well in school, but scheduling homework into the round of after-school activities and extracurriculars can be a chore. Here are some helpful hints to make homework as painless as possible for the whole family.

See to the Basics

It’s hard to do your best when you’re tired, hungry, or thirsty. So give your child time to wind down and refresh themselves when they come in from a day at school. Let them fuel up with healthy, energy-boosting snacks such as fresh fruit, whole grains, nuts, and dairy. Encourage them to drink a glass of water, spend some time outdoors, and perhaps even grab a nap. Taking a short break after school allows your child to come at their homework with renewed attention and effort. If it seems like the homework is taking forever, encourage your child to take a break, get up and move around for a few minutes, before returning to their studies.

Routine Is the Key

Children don’t handle abrupt changes well. Set up an after-school routine that includes a set period of time in which they can complete their homework, and try to stick to it each day. Part of this involves creating a quiet space in which they can work without distractions. This should have a desk and appropriate equipment for learning, without the hindrance of television, phone, or social media. Even if they require access to a computer, you can limit their programs and applications to those necessary for their schoolwork. Having a place to go to, at a set time each day, will reinforce good work and study habits.

Encourage Understanding

Create activities to reinforce what your children are learning in school. If they’re studying French, have dinner at a French restaurant. If they’re learning American History, consider a weekend trip to the local historical museum. Depending on what they’re learning in science, do some outdoor activities like making a solar oven, hiking or visiting an animal sanctuary. There are copious opportunities to tie in family fun with what your kid is studying that will reinforce their lessons and broaden their interest and understanding of the subject matter.

Ask for Help

Not every child learns in the same fashion. Some children have difficulty learning new material from a textbook or lecture. They may benefit from alternative teaching methods. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when your child is struggling. Consult the teacher and explain what you’ve witnessed. Together, you can devise methods to help reach the student. Maybe your child is not a visual-spatial learner, and needs materials explained more concretely, with hands-on experiences. It’s even possible your child could have an underlying problem or learning disability that makes a particular pathway to learning more problematic. Investigate the issue, seek professional advice, and try different methods of imparting information to the student.

Make It Fun

It’s hard to imagine homework being fun, but you can do a lot to make it less boring. Turn lessons into an educational game, where they track their progress and earn points or rewards for improvement. Consider adding a trophy or display area to their workspace so they can be inspired by their own successes. You can also reward your children by taking them outside to do some bird watching or fossil finding. You could even invest in a telescope to spark interest in the wonders of astronomy.

Another great way to reinforce learning is to reverse roles and have your child teach you what they learned today. Sit down and be the student. This is particularly useful when your child is utilizing a learning method with which you are unfamiliar. Stepping into the role of instructor helps the child better understand the concepts they’re learning and retain information.

Give your child every opportunity to succeed by setting up a practical homework schedule and a constructive, inspiring workspace. Encourage successes by building on them, inspiring your child to take pride in each new lesson mastered. Get help when you need it, and don’t be afraid to try different approaches tailored to your child’s specific needs and abilities. With patience and determination, you can help your child get through their workload without too much discomfort.

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→