Struggling with Transitions: Art Therapy Strategies
Struggle with Transitions? Transition tools for teachers and parents
How are we at the end of September already?! I'm writing this today with my pumpkin spice latte in hand with two days until October. This school year is moving quickly, even though each day can feel like you are climbing through peanut butter. For those of you who don’t know me yet, I am an Art Therapist and Art Teacher (two very different professions). I've worked with people of all ages, from 2 to 102. Art allows me to provide all types of adaptations to meet everyone’s needs cognitively, emotionally, and physically. This year threw everyone a curveball. I'm exploring this hard transition period into the new hybrid world of teaching to remote and in-school learners simultaneously via:
Telehealth
Face-to-face teaching
Zoom/Google Meetings
Google classrooms
So while I continue my own journey, I understand and empathize with how my students feel because they are making the same transitions. Their little worlds are changing and I am encouraging their process and exploration as well.
The main concern of parents and teachers is about transitioning. Getting home from school, logging onto a class in the morning, in between subjects, the list goes on—and the anxiety, fatigue, and stress being caused. Tough transitions are the reason I designed and created my scratch art cards. A fun art activity became a transitional tool and a coping skill—especially now with remote learning and homeschooling.
Handling Tough Transitions with Scratch-Art Cards
During times of transition between classes, it's common for students to become dysregulated. They may express this by:
Acting out
Not following the group plan
Disrupting other students
While one of my students was struggling with transitions, I took a closer look at the situation and found motivators. Depending on the situation, he either:
Needed a break to move his body and release the pent-up energy. During instructional times, my student built up energy from trying his hardest to focus through his ADHD.
He just needed a little extra encouragement and acknowledgment to continue doing his best.
Motivation to engage
These cards were just what he needed to take his mind off of the transition without needing a one-on-one intervention. He used these cards to self-regulate independently. Each card is different, and we would save them in a book, to use them as coping options to reference in the future. It became a great way to further discuss how some coping skills are better than others.
Why The Scratch Art Cards Work
During times of dysregulated behaviors, the body and mind are looking for comfort. It's hard to self-regulate as an adult, let alone as a child. As a specialist, I design and teach coping strategies that are enjoyable and effective for the kids. Scratching away the black layer of scratch paint provides a sensory experience. While scratching, you may find yourself creating your own art, or you may take it all off like a lottery ticket! Both are effective.
Through that process, the body releases extra energy, allowing you to relieve tension and stress. Your breath begins to even out as your body and mind become focused on the task at hand. While you're naturally starting to relax, a message appears. This creative process stimulates the mind and body. A message appears once all the paint is removed, which further encourages this process. Depending on the situation there are two choices:
The Calming Cards: The calming cards reveal a prompt to encourage movement to help self-regulate and feel calm.
The Encouragement Cards: These cards have a positive and encouraging message that reinforces hard work and the use of positive coping skills.
Both are forms of positive reinforcement for use as a strategy that helps calm and relax you.
When, Where, and How to Use The Cards
Now that you understand how the scratch art cards work, it's important to understand how to have our kids utilize these skills. These cards are enjoyable and a lot of fun. It is okay to let them be a reward or a sweet surprise in a lunch box, but let's discuss strategies to use these scratch art cards as a tool.
When your child is tired and doesn't want to log into their Google classroom. They barely got out of their pajamas this morning...
“You are having a sleepy morning. Let's do a calm scratch art card to help our body and mind wake up and get ready for class.” This simple task will start to engage the brain with little effort. Then, the movement piece will help stimulate and wake up the brain and the body. Allowing that time to process and prepare for class. I often compare it to our coffee time. I only answer simple emails and tasks in the morning while I drink my coffee. It allows me time to mentally prepare to start the real work.
When your child is stressed, upset, or dysregulated and is kicking and screaming. It is important to acknowledge that you see the state they are in and how they feel. For example,
“I see that you are mad and your body wants to move. Let's take a break and do a scratch card'.” In this example, you identified the feeling words, acknowledged their emotions, and are allowing them an opportunity to self-regulate with some assistance.
By pulling the kid to the side, you can continue to provide support:
“While you are taking a break, let's use the scratch card to help calm our bodies. When you are done scratching the card, you can show me what the secret message is. I can't wait to see it!”
During this part of the process, the child has the opportunity to process his thoughts and feelings while calming down, waking up, and engaging independently. Then when he/she is ready, they will come and show you the card. At this stage, they will get to act out the movement piece and hopefully be regulated enough to continue the lesson or join the group. If it was an encouragement card, you can respond by reading aloud or talking about the positive message and reinforcing his/her hard work and being able to calm down and join the group.
This is a great tool to use with students that finish their worksheets early or parents needing a strategy while they are in the car, etc. It also teaches them a valuable tool and refrains from shaming a child or labeling him as the disruptive one.
Just remember, all kids need a little help sometimes.
Check out our Encouragement and Calming Scratch Art Cards! Each pack comes with 10 cards. Sold here and now on Etsy!