How Art and creativity can help refugee kids Heydar Rasoulpour English 1010 Jason roberts

Do you think art can save a life? Have you ever thought to help kids with art and creativity?

I have 10 years of experience working with kids in different ages to engage their creativity and improve their painting skills. Recently, I started a new project with refugee kids working on creativity.1 In addition, I studied 3-4 articles related to this topic. 1.During this project I tried to use different materials to engage kids, such as painting and playing with watercolor, make tree dimensional handcrafts, talking about children's idea.

Based on “The arts in refugee camps: ten good reasons” by Awet Andemicael here is the reason why art is good for your kids. Artistic activity helps your kids use their time creatively and productively.1 Artistic activity can help your child deal effectively with the psychological and emotional stresses2 of living in a refugee camp at the time and after they are out of the camps.3 Artistic activity can help you keep your traditional culture while away from your native land.4 Artistic activity could help create connection between refugee and host communities. Artistic activity may help your kids prepare for life beyond the camp. Artistic activity is one way to use time to create thing and have fun, focusing energy and talent toward meaningful ends. In addition, celebrating festivals – such as World Refugee Day – with artistic showing can keep your child engaged in the creative activity. emotional stresses: synonyms: strain, pressure, (nervous) tension, worry, anxiety, trouble, difficulty, hassle. Artistic activity can be something to provide a means to express both painful and pleasant emotions. Its can help to solve many of anxiety, stress and trauma. Singing traditional songs, making traditional handicrafts and using traditional languages can help your kids to understand their native culture and preserve their cultural practices.

Aisha Sultan explains in her article “Why children lose their creativity” that “Children are born inherently creative. They act on it unself- consciously when they are young, willing to dance, draw or create at a moment's notice”. She then explains why children lose their creativity, “Fear is the main culprit, we are conditioned through years of schooling to strive for the "right" answer. We are punished for making mistakes. We are rewarded for following rules.”

For refugee kids, art can help them to decrease their anxiety and stress after their hard life. They can get involved in their creativity again and forget the past and come back to normal life. Jazmine Bager mentioned in her article “Art- based therapy for young refugees” that "Art is an international tool and language that can be used by anyone, and reaches everyone without any chains. Art in general is an easy, safe and participatory tool to use with children, especially refugees, where through it they release their stress, overcome their fears and talk about their experience without exposing them to any risks.”

In my current volunteering position with my community, I can see how art and creativity used as games and for fun can help kids to solve mental issues and make them happier.

In conclusion I want to repeat again and ask all parents to consider art as a special way to help their kids. Let your children express their creativity and develop in areas like decision making, visual learning, inventiveness and cultural awareness. As all refugee populations want the best for their kids, involve them in more art work and help them to be more successful in their future and be useful and efficient people for the community. I challenge all parents to enroll their children in art classes and give them a chance to know more about the arts.

Citation Andemicael , A. (n.d.). The arts in refugee camps: ten good reasons . Retrieved July 14, 2017, from http://www.fmreview.org/fragilestates/andemicael.html. Bager, J. (2015, October 05). Art-based therapy for young refugees: Can art save lives? Retrieved July 14, 2017, from http://www.middleeasteye.net/in-depth/features/art-based-therapy-young- refugees-can-art-save-lives-903218945 Sultan, A. Why children lose their creativity. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO). Aug, 18, 2012. Retrieved from SLCC.Library.