This past summer, I was fortunate enough to be able to work with two students who were diagnosed with learning disabilities. What a great experience! In fact, I probably learned more from them than they did from me! So, in light of that experience, I decided to reach out and see if there were others who could guide me through what I could do better. Cary Maloney was kind enough to respond back with some ideas, so I am sharing them with you today.
Please, feel free to respond back with any ideas you may have! We're all in this together and the more we understand about each other, the better off we will all be!
Engage in the Arts: Strategies to Help Your Child With Learning Disabilities Thrive
Art is an excellent tool for children with learning disabilities to express themselves and develop their skills. It can be therapeutic, inspire creativity, and improve self-esteem (among many other benefits). However, not all children with learning disabilities have access to the arts. Today, we’d like to share some ways you can help your child engage in the art forms. We’ll also share some tips for teaching online, building a creative space, and much more!
Painting and Drawing
If you want your child to have an outlet for expressing themselves, painting and drawing are hard to beat. They can do wonders to improve fine motor skills, a crucial benefit for children with learning disabilities. You can start by giving your child different types of canvas (e.g., paper, cloth, etc.), paintbrushes, and paint (e.g., acrylic, watercolor, oil paints, etc.). Help your child experiment with various mediums like pencils, markers, crayons, and pastels.
Crafting
Crafting is another way to explore creativity. When it comes to engaging in crafts, your child has endless options including scrapbooking, knitting, crocheting, and origami. Give your child the tools and materials they need for each craft and go through instructions or videos to help them learn how to create a wide range of projects.
Creating a multi-purpose Room
Did you know that you can set your child up for success by converting a room in your home into a multi-purpose art studio? You can equip the space with a painting station, a craft table, a musical instrument, and/or a bookshelf full of instructional materials. While you can handle all the decorating, leave any electrical work to the professionals. Fortunately, you can get electrical help through several apps that work on your smartphone or tablet. These pros can ensure your room is safe and secure for your child to use regularly.
Music
Many children with learning disabilities reap significant rewards from the musical arts. You might sign your child up for music lessons, whether it’s piano, violin, guitar, or singing. If you can’t afford or access lessons, you can watch instructional videos with your child – there are many free, useful videos to help your child lay a firm foundation. And don’t look past the keyboard, drums, or ukulele!
Becoming an Online Teacher
Some parents become so passionate about the arts that they decide to become online teachers to help other kids with learning disabilities. You can create online classes, lessons, or workshops to teach children different types of art, which will not only help kids develop their skills but also give them a sense of community and socialization. Take an afternoon to write down the steps you would need to take, such as creating a business plan, determining your rates, and choosing a business structure.
Saving Digital Copies of Your Child's Art
Storing digital copies of your child’s art is a fantastic strategy. Children with learning disabilities often have difficulty with paperwork and organization, and digital files are much easier to manage. You can take photographs of your child’s artwork and store them in cloud storage or on a hard drive. You can even use online AI tools to touch up the images and make corrections, then store them for sharing and future projects!
Every child deserves the opportunity to build skills and express themselves. You can help your child discover the arts by using different materials, tools, and online resources. Creating a productive workstation for them to hone their craft and digitizing their artwork will go a long way in helping your child enjoy the arts and nurture their talents. As your child improves in their chosen art form, it’s critical to keep encouraging them to foster a sense of pride in their accomplishments. And don’t forget to enjoy the process for yourself as well!
