Art Therapy Activities for Kids - by Erica Curtis (Paperback)

About the Book

"Making art is a great way for kids to sort through their emotions and learn how to solve problems in creative ways. This book is filled with art therapy activities for you and your child, whether you're looking for a fun weekend activity with high social-emotional value or you need-in-the-moment strategies for resolving conflict. Together you'll learn how to harness the power of art to encourage good behavior, soothe worries, get organized, ease transitions, and much more!"--Back cover.

Book Synopsis

Turn meltdowns into masterpieces--75+ creative activities to help kids feel, express & heal

Talking to kids about big emotions isn't always easy--but drawing, painting, building, and pretending? That's their language.

Created by nationally recognized art therapist Erica Curtis (LMFT, ATR-BC), Art Therapy Activities for Kids offers 75+ fun, clinically informed exercises for children ages 6 to 9. Whether your child is anxious, overwhelmed, or just needs a safe outlet, these activities help them build confidence, express feelings, and manage stress--all through creative play.

Trusted by parents, praised by therapists, and loved by educators.

• Lots of ways to get creative--Explore projects organized by artform: drawing and painting, building and sculpting, cutting and pasting, dancing and music making, and acting and storytelling.
• Art therapy activities made easy--Each activity includes a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, and helpful tips. Keep an eye out for discussion questions to inspire deeper conversations with your child!
• Simple materials--There's no need to buy fancy or expensive materials for these activities! You might even have most of them on hand, like paper, pens, construction paper, and a device to play music.

"This is a must-read for parents seeking creative and engaging tools to explore together with their kids." --Risa Williams, therapist and author

Perfect for parents, teachers, therapists, and homeschoolers, Art Therapy Activities for Kids turns art time into healing time--no experience needed.

Review Quotes

"As a therapist and mom, I've found it can be challenging for kids to talk about their emotional states. Erica Curtis makes talking about feelings easy with her inventive and insightful worksheets that inspire kids to unleash their emotions through markers, paint, poems, and doodles. Every fun worksheet will inspire your child with art-based activities, while also sparking insight into new concepts and deeper themes. This is a must-read for parents seeking creative and engaging tools to explore together with their kids!" --Risa Williams, therapist and author of The Ultimate Anxiety Toolkit and The Ultimate Time Management Toolkit

"Everyone with children in their life should have this book! Art is a child's natural way of expressing themselves and this book gives parents, caregivers, and people who work with children the tools to learn how to use this language to build better, stronger relationships. Erica's talent to brilliantly translate the science behind art therapy shines throughout the pages, lighting the way for adults to learn how to use creativity and the arts as a tool to improve children's lives." --Nadia F. Paredes Guapo, licensed marital and family therapist & registered art therapist

"When children are most upset, they're least able to think and speak rationally. Art therapist Erica Curtis offers a treasure trove of creative, easy, and fun ways to help children navigate feelings and conflicts when words alone are not working. I've gotten miraculous results with my grandkids!" --Ping Ho, MA, MPH, founder and director of UCLArts & Healing