Patrick Young is an educator and activist. He believes people with disabilities must live within a unique set of circumstances—the outside world often either underestimates them or ignores their needs altogether. He created Able USA to offer helpful resources to people with disabilities and to provide advice on navigating various aspects of life as a person with disabilities.
Patrick said he wanted to share an article idea I believed would be an excellent fit for this website, focusing on personal and career development and finding motivation and passion to improve.
The topic concerns the advantages of engaging children with learning disabilities in artistic activities and practical strategies to facilitate their involvement.
Patrick’s article resonates with an article posted on this website in September 2023 titled “Does art reach out to the artist or result from reaching in to find it?” which begins by saying: Art can change, inspire, and make us see the world differently. Each work of art created by the individual artist reflects a particular time periodparticulari particular, a particular context, and a stage in his life. Thus, in their works of art, the artist can see the development of his identity through time.
Patrick’s Article
Does Your Child Have a Learning Disability? Try the Arts!
By Patrick Young
Children with learning disabilities face unique challenges regarding learning, socializing, and expressing themselves. The good news is that your child can significantly benefit from the arts!
Crafting, music, painting, theater, and dancing can provide a safe and stimulating outlet for kids with learning disabilities to develop new skills, express themselves, and build self-esteem.
Today, Connected Events Matter looks at the many benefits the arts can yield for kids and how you can support your child’s artistic interests and talents! These ideas show how art can change, inspire, and make us see the world differently.
Benefits of Crafting.
Crafting is fantastic for many kids with learning disabilities because it helps them develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving skills. Arts and crafts also help children to express themselves and cope with difficult emotions. Moreover, your child might find that crafting activities help them regulate emotions and build self-esteem. Give your child simple materials like paper, glue, scissors, and markers, and encourage them to experiment with different textures, shapes, and colors.
Creating a multipurpose room for your kid.
Craft projects can spark children's creativity and help them see the world differently. A special room or just dedicated space will help foster focus and concentration to promote experimentation and collaboration; creativespaces play a critical role in helpingassisting artistsassisting artists to unleash their creativity and bring their works to life.
Benefits of Music
Music can have profound effects on children with learning disabilities, particularly in the areas of communication, language, and socialization. Vivvi notes that kids who listen to music or learn to play an instrument can improve their auditory processing, speech production, and social skills.
You can also use music as a communication tool because it helps children express their feelings, thoughts, and experiences in ways they might not be able to through speech. Consider exposing your child to music lessons, instruments, and opportunities to participate in performances or music groups.
Cleaning Up
Art projects with your child are an excellent way to foster creativity, though they can often lead to quite a mess. Paints, glues, and other materials can easily find their way onto surfaces and clothing. However, you can minimize the stress of cleanup by preparing in advance with DIY cleaners made from common everyday household products. Simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon can be combined to create effective, non-toxic cleaning solutions that tackle everything from paint spills to glue residues.
This approach keeps your home and child clean and introduces an eco-friendly practice into your routine, making post-art session cleanups easier and safer.
Benefits of Painting
Painting can be a fun and accessible method of expressing creativity and developing motor skills while exploring different colors, textures, and techniques. It can help your child build self-esteem and confidence in the process. Painting is also a fantastic way for your child to engage with their surroundings, learn new concepts, and express their understanding of the world. Create an environment where your kid can paint with different tools, surfaces, and mediums.
Art and Business
Encouraging your child’s interest in art can be fun and educational, especially when exploring art-based business ideas together. This collaborative effort nurtures their creativity and introduces them to basic entrepreneurial skills. For example, you could brainstorm starting a custom greeting card business where your child designs and sells their artwork on cards for various occasions.
Another idea is creating and selling digital artwork or prints online, tapping into a market of art lovers looking for unique pieces. Lastly, consider a service-based business like art classes where your child can teach other kids basic drawing or painting techniques. Each of these ventures allows your child to express creativity while learning valuable business and social skills.
Benefits of Theater and Dancing
Theater and dancing are two dynamic art forms through which children with learning disabilities can cultivate their creative and social skills. In theater, kids learn to develop their dedicated space, which will help foster focus and concentration to promote experimentation and collaboration; creative spaces play a critical role in assisting artists in speaking, listening, and nonverbal communication skills while experiencing different characters and stories.their dedicated space, which will help foster focus and concentration to promote experimentation and collaboration; creative spaces play a critical role in assisting artists in
Children who take dancing often grow in coordination, timing, and physical expression as they work with different movements and rhythms. Both disciplines can help kids build self-confidence, form friendships, and learn to work collaboratively as a team.
Art can be a powerful tool for kids with learning disabilities to excel in life. Whether through painting, drawing, crafting, music, theater, dancing, or any other art form, your child might significantly benefit from expanding their horizons and learning new disciplines. Be sure to provide access to any art supplies, materials, lessons, and opportunities your child needs to engage in the arts. And encourage them to try new and creative activities that can drastically improve their lives and prospects!