5 Steps to Getting Your Child with Learning Disabilities Involved in The Arts

5 Steps to Getting Your Child with Learning Disabilities Involved in The Arts

The arts have been shown to provide countless benefits to children. From increasing creativity to a building community and improving collaborations, the arts can provide enrichment to our children’s lives and help them develop skills that will benefit them for years to come.

However, many children with learning disabilities do not have the chance to participate in the arts and benefit from these beneficial benefits. Getting involved in a hobby like the arts can be a healthy way for your child to express their emotions and flex their creative muscles. It can also provide them with a healthy outlet and provide a foundation that can prevent unhealthy behaviors, including drinking and doing drugs, both of which parents should talk about with their children. Luckily, there are quite a few ways parents and educators can intervene to get children with learning disabilities involved in the arts. Mommy I’m Here presents five steps that can help your child get involved with the arts.

Designate a Specific Room or Area

Setting aside a particular place to participate in the arts shows our children that it is essential. HGTV suggests furnishing this hobby area with a sturdy work table, plenty of storage, and taking the time to color code your supplies so you can easily find them.

You want this space to be as distraction-free as possible so that true creative work can take place. It is hard to get “in the zone” and flex your creative muscles if you’re constantly glancing at the TV. So, try to also make this room electronic-free.

There is no need to spend tons of money on a hobby room either. Many everyday objects can be repurposed to fit your needs. Old soup cans, for example, can be used to hold paint brushes, and cleaned out baby-food jars can make wonderful paint containers.

Invest in High-Quality Supplies

While you can repurpose objects to hold your paint brushes, you should not repurpose the paint brushes themselves. Having high-quality tools and materials is very important when it comes to the arts. While you might consider sticking to low-quality equipment, children can quickly become frustrated and give up when given tools and materials don’t work well.

It can be difficult sometimes to discover which materials are high-quality and which are not. Business Insider has a guide to the best art supplies available that do not cost an arm and a leg. If you have difficulty choosing high-quality art tools, you might want to check it out.

If your child becomes invested in the arts, we recommend learning how to test materials for quality yourself. It can also be useful to ask art professionals, including your children’s teachers, what they use and where to purchase them.

Allow Time for Exploration

The arts don’t have to include just painting and drawing. Anything that involves creative expression can provide essential benefits to your child with disabilities.

There are generally three major categories of the arts: literature, performing arts, and visual arts. While your child might get their start by painting, they might later decide that they would rather write poetry or dance. It is essential to give your child this time to explore the arts and not insist that they only stick to one. Different people simply have different preferences and tastes.

Visit Displays of Art

Whether it is visiting an art museum or attending a play, taking your child to performances and displays of art can prompt their interest and inspire them to try it themselves. It is usually pretty easy to find art events in your area. We recommend checking with local colleges or taking a look in a local newspaper for events in and around your area.

Teach Your Own Classes

Throughout the process of teaching your own child about the arts, you may have discovered that you want to share this passion with others. If so, consider teaching your own classes or giving lessons part-time. That way, you can help discover the many benefits the arts can provide. Just remember that you’ll need to take proper steps when setting up your business. For example, if you decide you want to register as an LLC, read up on California’s regulations to make sure you follow everything to the letter.

While getting your child with learning disabilities involved in the arts can be difficult, it is not at all impossible. Taking some of the steps we outlined here can help spark their interest and provide some of the key benefits that the arts are known for.

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