Parenting is both deeply rewarding and quietly challenging—especially when your child’s feelings seem bigger than their words. As children grow, they’re learning who they are and how to communicate what they feel. Even adults struggle to name emotions in the moment, so it’s no surprise that children often act out, shut down, or get frustrated when they can’t fully express themselves.
Children are still developing emotional awareness, language, and coping skills. When experiences feel confusing or overwhelming, words may not come easily. This can leave parents and children feeling disconnected, even when both want the same thing: understanding and connection.
That’s where art as self-expression becomes powerful. Art therapy—and art-based activities at home—offer children a safe, nonverbal way to explore emotions, build self-esteem, regulate feelings, and develop emotional resilience. Creating something tangible from their inner world can help children feel seen, heard, and proud of their experiences.
It’s no coincidence that January 31 is Inspire Your Heart With Art Day, a reminder that creativity isn’t just enjoyable—it’s essential to emotional wellbeing. Exploring art together, whether through drawing, painting, or even visiting virtual exhibits like the Virtual Art Gallery can spark meaningful conversations and emotional insight without pressure.
Below are four simple, developmentally supportive ways your child can use art to self-express, helping you connect more deeply while supporti
Here are four creative ways you can improve communication with your child. These activities support creating healthy habits and work even better when they are implemented on a daily or weekly basis!
1. Create an emotion wheel: You and your child can create a wheel that can be posted within the home to reference. This wheel can contain 6 colors to attach to the most simplistic emotions (i.e. blue or purple = sad). From there, you can discuss which six words match the 6 colors chosen and what that means to them, so when that emotion comes forth and they are unable to easily express it, they can point to the area on the wheel that best describes that moment.
2. Body scan: Draw a human outline figure on any surface (or trace your child's outline onto a large sheet of paper or cardboard), and from there, let your child use color to portray what their body is currently feeling. This can be a simple tool for the child to understand that sometimes these thoughts can come up as physical symptoms as well, or just another way to talk about emotions and where they show up in the body. You can even take it to a different level and have them make a collage of what’s inside their body.
3. Make a painting, drawing, or sculpture: Using any media available or of your child's choosing, they can create a piece of art that encompasses their thoughts or emotions. This allows them to use a canvas or sculpture to make their experience into a tangible item in order to further release any pent up emotions, and to create something beautiful out of those emotions.
4. Drawing in sand: This can also be done with rice if needed, but sand can be placed into a shallow box for a child to start "drawing" with their fingers, and once completed, it can be shaken away. This is a good way for them to show what they are currently experiencing, while also understanding that these emotions may seem heavy and overwhelming now, but they won’t last forever. They will get a fresh canvas to begin again.
For more inspirational ideas about using creative play to connect with your children, look for YouTube videos with instructions like this one: Create Your Wheel of Emotion.
Our creative therapists create safe spaces for support where children, teens, and adults can identify their emotions and learn to express themselves without fear of judgment. Browse our therapists to learn more about finding a therapist who feels like the right fit for you or your child!