Our Workshop
We designed and organized a series of expressive art workshop for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their parents. These engaging workshop provided a welcoming and supportive environment for participants to unleash their creativity and self-expression through diverse artistic activities, utilizing a wide range of art materials. By engaging in sensory-rich experiences, children with ASD and their parents can be empowered to communicate and connect in meaningful ways. By offering a platform for self-expression and creativity as the core of our workshop, the parent-child expressive arts workshop can successfully achieve its intended goal.
Our Principles
1
Keep Classroom Clean
We prioritize cleanliness in our workshop, ensuring a hygienic and organized classroom environment for optimal creativity and focus.
2
Be Nice to One Another
Kindness is at the heart of our workshop, fostering a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where participants treat each other with respect and empathy.
3
No Right or Wrong, Just True Expressions
We embrace the freedom of self-expression, emphasizing that there are no right or wrong answers in art. Participants are encouraged to authentically express themselves without fear of judgment.
01
Exploration of Self-Image
In the first session of our expressive art workshop, participants, including children and their parents, embarked on a powerful exploration of self-image through the creation of self-portraits. Using oil pastels and markers, these individuals delved into an introspective journey, visually representing themselves on paper. This activity provided children with ASD with an invaluable opportunity for self-discovery and expression, fostering confidence and self-awareness. For parents, this shared artistic experience acted as a bridge for stronger connection and understanding, strengthening the bond with their child.
02
Seeing different perspectives
Children and their parents explored different perspectives by creating masks in the second session. They adorned their masks with personal expressions and vibrant designs using oil pastels and markers. This activity offered a unique opportunity for participants to “walk in another’s shoes,” cultivating empathy and broadening self-awareness. More importantly, this activity was particularly valuable and beneficial for children with ASD in developing crucial perspective-taking skills, as they may struggle with perspective-taking. Parents also joined in, cultivating deeper connections and ignited meaningful conversations.
03
Strengthening Family Bonds
Our third session focused on building family resilience through the decoration of a photo frame. Armed with colorful foam stickers and markers, children and their parents actively participated in this activity. By personalizing the photo frame, families were able to express their unique bond, strength, and love. Their decorated frame stood as a vivid reminder of their shared experiences and the resilience they possess as a unit. Families discovered art as a powerful medium to celebrate their togetherness and reinforce their collective strength.
04
Making Memories
In the fourth and final session of our expressive art workshop, participants came together to create safe boxes. This collaborative activity aimed to capture and preserve lasting memories. Using paper clay and markers, they crafted meaningful items to store inside the safe boxes. Each item held personal significance, symbolizing their hopes, dreams, or cherished memories. Through this process, participants not only engaged in a tactile and creative experience but also deepened their bond as they worked together towards a common goal. The safe boxes ultimately became vessels of treasured moments, reminding families of their shared journey and the strength they found in one another.
