FAMILY CONNECTION THROUGH ART
When the dishes are piled high, the Lego looks like it has volcanically erupted all over the floor, and you still need to rush out to pick up dinner ingredients, the idea of sitting down with your kids to carve out connection time can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Parenting often feels like a constant juggling act—trying to balance the needs of the household, trying to work out where your energy is best spent. A colleague once gave me a simple piece of advice: “Take care of the living things first.” This gentle reminder has stuck with me, reminding that sometimes, the chores can wait and what is most important is connected time with my kids.
I often think of connection time with my kids like a savings account. When I spend time with them, I am filling up their emotional "bank accounts" with little moments where they are seen and valued. If I see the bank account has dwindled, then some well needed time to connect may be needed!
Each family has its unique ways of connecting. My husband gravitates toward rough-and-tumble play, sports, or games of tag. Meanwhile, I lean more toward imaginative play, time in nature, and creative activities like art. Secretly things I love to do too!
As an art therapist I have often surpass supplies of art therapy materials pocketed in various craft cupboards throughout the house. I had too grown up like this with Artistic parents and was blessed to have an abundance of materials at my disposal, a pottery studio up the road, video cameras and every colour paint I could imagine.
My boys have always loved filling the dining table with drawings, paints and making various intriguing objects, our dining table tells a few stories with Texta marks and paint blobs. We defiantly haven’t shied away from mess in our household.
One of my favorite creative activities is creating vision boards, particularly on a rainy day in front of the fire with a tea and some good tunes. My boys have watched me cut out magazines and compile them into a new story that inspire’s my next chapter of life. They too have loved making these with me, dreaming up their future or hobbies or putting together quirky characters.
One of My eldest son’s Vision Board
Children, unlike adults, are wonderfully unfiltered in their creativity. There’s a fluidity between their inner world and their external expression. Art can be a bridge that allows parents to glimpse their Childs thoughts and feelings in a way words sometimes can’t.
I saw this when my eldest son was hospitalized five years ago for a kidney abscess. While being treated with IV antibiotics, he found a piece of chalk in the hospital courtyard and drew a picture of himself in the hospital, describing how hot he felt from his fever and he wished he could fly away. Surprisingly a few days later, he was airlifted to a more another hospital in Brisbane.
My sons hospital drawing
More recently, my other son fractured both wrists and needed minor surgery. During his recovery, he created a book detailing his experience of breaking his arms and being in the hospital. This amazed me at his ability to retell his experience through his own words and pictures.
In both instances, their art gave me a window into how they were processing these stressful events. Children instinctively know how to process emotions through play, creativity, movement, and emotional expression—if we give them the time, space, and support to do so.
As a parent, it feels like a privilege to witness these glimpses into their internal worlds. Creating space for them to express themselves through art allows them to feel seen and heard in their experiences.
Even setting aside just half an hour with some art materials can lead tosome beautiful opportunities for connection. Asking a few questions about there art after may be a beautiful way to open up a dialogue that otherwise may not have happened.
For some children it may be helpful to use a prompt like “Can you draw your home or school or your favourite place in nature”. Others will dive right in and see what emerges.
If drawing feels daunting, alternative mediums like collage, clay, or even building with recycled materials can be great options. I always keep a few basic art supplies on hand—colored pencils, oil pastels (which glide beautifully on paper), or watercolors.
When taking the time to set up a ‘creative station” for the kids , I have also benefited from the time to drop in , get messy and have a bit of a play. In a screen central climate, this sensory creative experiences are even more important then ever. Naturally using our hands relaxes our nervous system, reducing stress and anxiety both in the kids and the parents!
Have you used art to connect with your kids? If so, what fascinating insights or moments have come from it?