Thursday, October 15, 2009

10/12 Art Therapy Technique

For the Birds
Population: Geriatric
Art Technique: For the project you will need pine cones, twine, scissors, peanut butter, spoons, bird seed, 8"x 10" white paper, markers and news paper. Cover the table with news paper before you begin as this will be a messy project. Each person should get a pine cone, a spoon, and a spoonful of peanut butter (on the news paper in front of the participant is fine). Twine should be tied to the top of the pine cone leaving a large enough loop on top so the finished product can be hung in a tree outdoors. Ask each member to begin by covering his or her pine cone in peanut butter. Once finished, the pine cones should be rolled in bird seed.
Set the bird feeders aside and begin a discussion with the group members about their favorite birds and why they like those birds. Then ask each participant to create an image of what kind of bird they would be. Would they have a long tail and wings to help fly long distances? Would they be very colorful or not? Would they go south for the winter or would the stick it out? Process with the group the images and the members description of his or her bird.

What art techniques did you do this week?

10/5 Art Therapy Task

Kind Words for Strangers
Population: Geriatric
Task: The theme for the month of October is "Up, Up and Away" and the party we are having at the end of the month is a balloon launch! Each balloon let go will be tagged with the facilities name and phone number and a message asking for who ever finds the tag to please call and say where the balloon was found.
So, the task was centered around the soon to be released balloons. For the project you will need strips of paper approx. 2" x 6", a hole punch, markers, scissors, and ribbon. Each person in the group got at least two tags. Before giving the directions, a discussion was had about the nice things people have said to others or have been said to them and the feelings associated with such kind words. Once we had some ideas, the group was told to write onto the tag something nice for the stranger who may find the balloon. Encourage serious and silly responses, "You are having a nice hair day" is perfectly acceptable for this project!
Once all of the tags have been written on, punch a hole at the end of each tag, and have each participant thread some ribbon through the hole to later tie onto the balloons.

What art therapy projects did you do this week?

Sunday, October 4, 2009

9/28 art therapy technique

Group Fall Tree
Population: Geriatric
Technique: For this art therapy task you will need a large piece of white or gray construction paper (18" x 24"), large brown marker, yellow, red, and orange acrylic paint, large leaf stencils, and sponges (or scrunched plastic bags in a pinch).
Have each member of the group take turns filling in leaf stencils using the sponges and paint. Encourage mixing the fall colors to create unique leaves. Once each member has added his or her own leaf, the group facilitator should use a brown marker and create a tree in the center that encompasses all of the members leaves. Next, write down each persons name near their leaf. Discuss the placement of the leaves and the meaning behind who's leaf is next to who's, if anyone would want to move their leaf, if anyone wants to add or subtract leaves, and the idea of a family tree and what that means for this group.

What art therapy techniques did you do this week?