Creative Outlets
Playing with clay, painting, drawing, sewing — these are all excellent skills and fun activities to learn. What adults don't always realize is that these creative outlets can be expressions of what one is experiencing and feeling.
What Does It Mean?
Artists will tell you that it isn't until after they have finished a piece of art that they realize it was driven by specific emotions or a mood.
For children, creative projects are great activities to encourage emotional expression. Kids don't have to know that's what they are doing — they merely need to have fun. For children who don't know exactly how to verbalize what they are feeling, creative activities are instrumental in helping them relax, and whatever they are experiencing inside seems to come right out. And remember, creative expression doesn't have to be a structured activity. Maybe your child wants to paint his room, or he likes to cook, or he would rather write music for his guitar. Any activity that lets him play and explore who he is a great depression fighter. Adolescents also like these activities because they aren't being forced to talk!
Alert!
Just because your child draws something that seems dark and frightening, do not automatically assume she is depressed and needs help. Sometimes children like to depict negative things, and sometimes they are merely trying to be dramatic. Watch how she acts across the board before you form any opinions.
Keeping a Journal
Something as simple as keeping a scrapbook of successes and good times is a great antidote to a child's negative feelings about herself. Helping her to keep track of the positive things in her life keeps her less vulnerable to the thoughts that can lead to depression.
