art. sand & paints

Therapeutic activities with sensory materials promote :

• Non-verbal expression

  Using sand, play-dough, paints, music and pictures provide a non-verbal and symbolic medium for us to express our thoughts, emotions, and life experiences. When we are overwhelmed by emotions, we may have limited language skills to communicate and process our inner world effectively.

• Self-exploration and self-awareness

  Through creating images, sceenes or actions in the sand, play-dough, painting, and playing music, we can explore and discover our subconscious and unconscious patterns, conflicts, struggles, and strengths. The process of constructing and manupulating the act of art can facilitate self-exploration and self-discovery, and self-awareness.

• Emotional release, healing and regulation

  Like other sensory art actitivies, the tactile nature of sand, play-dough, paints and soft toys can promote relaxation and stress reduction. Touching sand and play-dough offer a tangible representatin of internal struggles, allowing us to externalize our emotional challenges through sensory regulation process. Engaging with the sensory activities, feeling its texture, and focusing on the tactile experience can have a calming effect, helping us regulate our emotions and reduce stress.

• Resilience, problem-solving and decision-making

  It allows us to recreate traumatic events or explore traumatic themes symbolically, providing a safe processing and integrating traumatic experiences in a controlled and safe manner. Imagination, interpretation and recreation our thoughts and behaviours through the creative art scenes can help us to be the resilient self in the world and life.