Art Therapy for Children
Every year Lions clubs sponsor an international peace poster contest for children ages 11-13. Shown here is 2006-07 “Celebrate Peace” grand prize winning art by Min-Ji Yi, 13 years old from
It blows my mind how well these children can draw. You can learn more about the Peace Poster contest and see more art at the Lions Clubs International website.
Kids are encouraged to express themselves using a variety of mediums through art. This year’s theme is “Peace Around the World”. There have been 112 posters submitted and the winners will be announced at
Lions members worldwide sponsor this program to encourage children to creatively express their visions for world peace. Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club organization, began the contest in 1988 to support one of its main objectives, “to create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world.” To date, more than 3.5 million children from around the world have participated. ( OAK BROOK ,Ill. , Jan. 9 /PRNewswire)
Sometimes things can be expressed through art that can’t be vocalized through words. It is especially helpful for children who have been traumatized as a way to express their emotions through art.
- Art is used as a form of therapy all over the world. This clip shows children creating art from Darfur. They revealed crimes against humanity that cameras were not able to capture. In 2007, the children’s drawings were submitted to the International Criminal Court. They were then able to proceed against the Sudanese government and the military for the war crimes they were accused of committing.
Some of the images are disturbing since they depict some of the horror children had to witness. It is still amazing how art was able to speak for these children when no one else could.
- Wendy at Artists Passion addresses how art is fun therapy for adults too on her Time Compromise post.
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