Solaramentalhealth.com has a lot to say about being creative as it relates to mental health, “Look at it this way: without anxiety disorders, the world would never have been graced with the talents of: Abraham Lincoln (U.S. President), Emily Dickinson (American poet), Vincent van Gogh (Dutch artist), Brian Wilson (American musician/Beach Boys frontman), or T.S. Eliot. In fact, Eliot gave us the sentiment, “Anxiety is the handmaiden of creativity.”
As a counselor who works with children, preteens, teens and emerging adults, I constantly struggle with finding creative and engaging ways to provide therapeutic services to my clients. I have a background in art and play therapy so I am almost always found with art materials and things to play with either in my portable therapy kit or in my office. Creativity in counseling can be very crucial when it comes to making an impact on the therapeutic relationship and experience for yourself and your clients.
There are so many cool and fun art projects for kids of all ages. One particular one is beads, also called Fuse beads or perler beads. These are fan favorites at summer camps, art rooms and craft tables across the world.
What is a perler bead you ask? They are these cute plastic small tube shaped beads with a hole running through the middle. No bigger than a green pea, these perler beads come in just about every color of the rainbow AND more!
Making fun art projects with kids and teens is a creative outlet for many people! For me, some of my projects have turned into great gifts and even business sales for me! It’s such a fun way to destress and gives me a small profit from my sales as well as greatest gifts for friends.
What is a visual journal you ask? Some of the earliest forms of art like cave drawings, called Petroglyphs, are, in fact, visual journals. They depict daily life, struggles, battles, the fight to live, hunting etc… Compare that today and if you look at my social media feeds you see images of my daily life, my struggles, food I like to eat and other daily documentation. My personal journal looks quite the same. And it wouldn’t be my journal if it didn’t have some bling or other artistic additions to it.
I am all about homemade for the holidays! I am always looking for creative projects that also reflect my personality and the personality of the people I am giving things to. This year, I am really focusing on giving gifts I have made with love. So here is a small collection of the good stuff I love to make and give!
I wanted to begin by sharing creative projects for the tummy! Starting with homemade hot chocolate stirrers. They’re easy to make with kids of all ages! Hit up the local dollar store for your plastic spoons and other accessories.