Activity of the Month!

This month's activity is a therapeutic art activity called the Support Box. This activity is related to children learning ways to cope with difficult situations or feelings. This activity can be helpful for many children including children who have difficulty coping with anger, anxiety and stress. This activity can be used with children age 6 and up.

The art materials for this art activity include: a plain box (preferably a wooden box) and the child/youth can choose from markers, water colours, tempera paints, and collage materials. Some children/youth like to combine art materials such as paints with collage materials.  

The activity is explained by starting a discussion about coping. Then discussing that the Support Box is meant to help them when they are trying to cope with difficult situations or feelings. They can go to their box and pick out a way of coping that will be helpful for them at the time. They can decorate their box with images, symbols or colours that they like or they find healing. After the child has had an opportunity to decorate their box, they are offered blank slips to write coping they already use. They are also given printed slips with ways of coping such as thinking of a happy memory, asking for a hug, and letting out feelings in a journal. Children/youth have time to look through the slips and pick ones they like or would want to try.