ART THERAPY ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES

Stewart’s guide provides step-by-step instructions for various therapeutic art projects.

After running a preschool for 10 years, the author switched directions and concentrated on helping seniors. She found that, with modifications, the same type of art instruction that is fun for children just beginning their lives can also serve a population with many years behind them (“You never stopped being an artist,” Stewart notes). The guide includes projects suitable for stroke recovery classes. After suffering a stroke, people may have difficulty with their own facial expressions, manual dexterity, and isolation; recommended projects include drawing faces representing emotions onto balloons and painting different types of masks; some have themes, such as Mardi Gras, Halloween, and Phantom of the Opera, or use mixed media for decoration. (Per the author, these projects may especially resonate with stroke survivors, whose changed appearances may make them feel they’re in disguise already.) All of the activities encourage social interactions. Stewart also discusses obstacles older adults might face, such as dementia and hearing or vision loss. The book is well structured and organized. Activities are grouped into categories, like “brain,” “memory,” “senses,” and “teamwork.” Each project is rated with symbols; for example, dollar signs signify the cost of the supplies and each clock-face symbol represents half an hour of preparation time. Stewart lists the specific supplies needed and gives steps to follow for every activity. She sometimes includes templates to use, such as the shape of a mask, a tree, or a set of postcards. Photographic examples give further ideas for how each project might look. Some of the simpler activities, such as cutting up magazines or drawing partner portraits, don’t seem to require the detailed instructions they’re given, and readers may wish for more stories about the author’s classes to give inspiration and add interest. But Stewart’s focus on an older population that is usually overlooked is admirable, as is her emphasis on making art fun for people of all abilities.

A good resource for art therapists, teachers, and caregivers.