An introduction to autism and the importance of art in education Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a set of neurodevelopmental conditions in which a child's ability to socialize, interact, and adapt is challenged. Autistic children often have difficulty expressing their feelings in conventional ways. This issue makes it necessary to use alternative means to communicate. One of the most effective non-verbal tools in this direction is art. In particular, teaching drawing to autistic children can be an effective way to: - Expression of feelings - Development of creativity - Creating mental and psychological peace At DelAra Clinic, art is used as part of a comprehensive therapeutic approach for children with autism. Drawing not only helps children express themselves, but also allows for cognitive development, improved attention and concentration, and increased sensorimotor abilities. This article examines various aspects of teaching painting to autistic children and provides practical solutions. Why is drawing useful for autistic children? **Teaching drawing to autistic children** has significant advantages, the most important of which are mentioned below: 1. Expressing emotions: Painting is a way to express emotions without the need for spoken language. 2. Strengthening motor skills: Activities such as coloring improve hand control and hand-eye coordination. 3. **Increase concentration:** Drawing helps children to stay focused on a subject. 4. **reducing anxiety:** Using color and lines is calming for many children. 5. **Strengthening creativity and self-confidence:** By making something from nothing, the child experiences a sense of success. At Delara Clinic, experience has shown that participation in drawing sessions has led to improved eye contact, increased social interaction, and even expanded children's vocabulary. ### 3. Principles and important points in teaching painting to autistic children In order to achieve the desired results in **teaching drawing to autistic children**, it is necessary to observe the following principles: 1. **Creating a calm and safe environment:** Soft lighting, low noise, and simple layout help reduce sensory stimulation. 2. **Choose the right tools:** Thick pencils, finger paints and resistant paper are ideal to start with. 3. **Using a specific structure:** For example, drawing simple shapes or painting with a specific theme (such as animals or family). 4. **Maintain flexibility:** Let the child find his own path in art; Even if it's just a circle. 5. **Accompaniment with music or story:** Adding an auditory element can increase the child's interaction. At DelAra Clinic, our trainers, with specialized training, design the educational environment based on these principles so that the child can perform in complete safety. Appropriate teaching methods Practical methods in **teaching drawing to autistic children** should be simple, attractive and flexible. Some effective methods include: 1. Modeling: The instructor shows the drawing step by step. 2. **Using real objects:** Drawing of fruits, leaves, toys or animals. 3. **Sensory-motor games:** combining tactile activities with coloring. 4. **Free drawing:** The child paints what he has in mind without restrictions. 5. **Targeted art therapy:** Focusing on the release of emotions and psychological development of the child. At DelAra Clinic, a combination of these methods is used to tailor education to each child's ability level. The role of teachers, parents and therapists **Teaching painting to autistic children** will be incomplete without the participation of three main groups: 1. **Art coach:** must have sufficient knowledge of autism behaviors and non-verbal communication skills. 2. **Parents:** Emotional support, providing drawing tools at home, and constant encouragement. 3. **Therapists:** aligning artistic goals with the child's treatment plan. At Delara Clinic, we have organized meetings so that parents can get to know the training process and there is an exchange of opinions between the trainer and the therapist. This tripartite cooperation is the key to the success of our children. Introducing educational tools and aids In choosing the tools used to teach painting to autistic children, the following points should be considered: - **Safety:** Non-toxic materials compatible with children's skin. - **Simplicity:** Easy-to-use tools. - **Sensory variety:** Tools that involve the sense of sight, touch and movement. #### Some tools used in Delara Clinic: 1. Non-toxic finger paints 2. Thick and soft colored pencils 3. Oil pastel 4. Colored and sponge stamps 5. Large papers with high thickness 6. Tablets and digital painting applications It is important for the child to work with his favorite tool. This has a direct impact on participation and progress. Examples of artistic activities and games In order to make **teaching drawing to autistic children** more effective, you can use attractive and game-based activities: 1. **Painting with eyes closed:** To strengthen the sense of touch and imagination. 2. **Completing the half-finished drawing:** The child uses his creativity. 3. **Painting accompanied by music:** simultaneous activation of several senses. 4. **Playing with stamps and fingerprints:** Suitable for children with sensory needs. 5. **Group painting:** Strengthening cooperation and social communication. 6. **Visual Storytelling:** Drawing the scenes of a simple story. These games not only help to develop artistic skills, but also provide an opportunity for emotional release and social interaction. Challenges and solutions in teaching painting **Teaching drawing to autistic children** is associated with challenges, but with planning and patience, it can be overcome: **Common challenges:** 1. The child's resistance to start or continue drawing 2. Obsessive repetition of certain forms 3. Sensory sensitivity to the color or texture of the tool 4. Restlessness or inattention in meetings **Suggested solutions:** - Using encouragement and small rewards - Creative guidance of repetitive behaviors (for example, turning a circle into a sun) - Offer to choose between several different tools - Reducing the time of sessions if the child is tired In Delara Clinic, experience has shown that these methods are effective in practice and encourage the child to continue participating. The effect of colors on the psyche of autistic children Colors are the language of emotions; Without the need for words, they convey deep concepts. In **teaching painting to autistic children**, paying attention to the psychological effect of colors is very important; Because many children in this spectrum have sensory sensitivities and their reaction to colors can be very different from other children. #### ✅ **Why is color important?** Psychological studies have shown that colors can affect emotional states and brain activity levels. Autistic children often have stronger emotional and sensory responses to certain colors; For this reason, the conscious use of color in painting sessions (in **painting teaching to autistic children**) can help improve the child's sensory and emotional experience. #### ✅ **Effect of colors on mood:** Some colors are calming, while others are stimulating. In the following, we mention the common effects of several colors: 1. **Blue:** Calming, reducing anxiety, suitable for starting artistic activities 2. **Green:** A sense of balance and nature, helping to reduce restlessness 3. **Yellow:** Stimulating the mind, increasing positive energy at a moderate level 4. **Red:** Strong stimulant, increasing energy and excitement, but sometimes causing irritability 5. **Purple:** The combination of relaxation and imagination, suitable for creative children 6. **Pink:** Creating a sense of security and kindness, useful in children with a lot of fear or anxiety At DelAra Clinic, colors are used not only as a decorative tool, but also as part of a therapeutic strategy. For example, if a child is very restless, a range of cold and soft colors such as blue and green are used in drawing exercises. **Teaching drawing to children with autism** **Favorite and allergenic colors:** In the process of **teaching painting to autistic children**, attention should be paid to the colors that the child shows interest in or avoids. Some children react negatively to bright colors or high contrast (eg red on black). Therefore, it is necessary to know the child's preferences through trial and error. ✅ **Adjusting the educational environment based on color:** The classroom environment or drawing room should be designed with colors that prevent excessive stimulation. Plain walls, soft background, wooden tables or neutral colors can increase the child's concentration and avoid distractions. ✅ **Practical suggestions for parents:** 1. Use the child's favorite colors to start the painting activity. 2. Let the child play with color combinations and discover for himself what color makes him feel good. 3. Ask him to show his "mood" with a color; This exercise helps in non-verbal expression of feelings. 🎨 Finally, the effect of colors in teaching painting to autistic children is so important that it can determine the success or failure of a session. At DelAra Clinic, this issue is taken seriously in the design of activities and the selection of painting tools so that every child has a safe, enjoyable and effective art experience. ### How to continue teaching painting at home? Education, especially painting to autistic children, does not make sense only in clinical sessions; Rather, when parents participate in this process, the child experiences a sense of security, stability and more self-confidence. In the following, practical solutions are provided to continue **teaching drawing to autistic children** at home: #### 1. Create a dedicated space for painting Dedicate a special corner of the house to the child's painting. This space should: - Have enough light - Stay away from sensory stimulation factors - Have a table and chair suitable for the child's height - Tools should be available and organized This environment makes the child prepare his mind for artistic activity by entering there. #### 2. Have a regular schedule Time stability is very important for autistic children. Therefore: - Dedicate a fixed time of the day (for example, in the evening after a snack) to painting - It is better that this time is not more than 20 to 30 minutes so that the child does not get tired or restless - Using a simple timer can manage the start and end of time well #### 3. Provide safe and diverse tools To make drawing lessons for autistic children more interesting at home, be sure to provide a variety of tools to the child: - Colored pencils, pastels, watercolors, finger paints - Colored or textured papers - Soft and roller brushes - Sponges and foam seals Various tools make the child discover his curiosity and avoid monotony. #### 4. Give the child freedom of action In the home environment, it is the best opportunity for the child to choose: - What to kill? - What color to use? - Which tool is more convenient for him? This freedom increases self-confidence, inner satisfaction and self-expression in the child. #### 5. Value the child's works Even if the child's drawing is just a few simple lines, positive feedback is very important: - Stick his works on the fridge or wall - Take a picture of it and keep it - Ask him about the colors or the story behind the painting By doing this, the child gets a sense of value and belonging. #### 6. Use drawing for conversation If the child has difficulty expressing his feelings, ask him: - Show his mood with color - A picture of something he likes to draw - Or even create a "visual story" with you **In teaching painting to autistic children, the art tool can be a bridge between the child's inner world and the outside world.** Overall, continuing to paint at home as an enjoyable and stress-free process not only enhances the child's artistic skills, but also promotes mental relaxation, emotional expression, and parent-child bonding. At Delara Clinic, parents are periodically trained so that they can effectively accompany their child at home. Summary and final recommendations Finally, teaching drawing to autistic children is not only an artistic aspect, but also a comprehensive therapeutic approach. Benefits of this training: - Emotional drain - Increased focus and accuracy - Development of communication skills - Increasing self-confidence ✅ Delara clinic's recommendations about **teaching drawing to autistic children**: 1. Give the child the right to choose. 2. Avoid comparing with others. 3. Enjoy the process, not just the result. 4. Include drawing in the child's daily life. At DelAra Clinic, we lovingly accompany autistic children with a team of experts. Drawing can be a bridge between the inner world of the child and the connection with the surrounding environment. This path will be smoother with your support, dear parents. Rehabilitation in Karaj **Teaching drawing to autistic children **Contact Del Ara Clinic