THERAPY FOR HANDS, EYES AND SOUL

   Would be the title, if we had to name the last visit of the Erasmus+ project “Special Education Students Overcome Obstacles With Art Therapy” at the Emine Teoman Special Education and Practice Center in Niğde (Turkey). The employees of the Centre have honed unique skills, and were able to use everything in the environment surrounding the pupils to create a therapeutic environment necessary for the improvement of the physical and mental condition of children with special educational needs.

   Having witnessed the influence of finely trained motor skills on pupil's development, the specialists at the centre have given their utmost attention and time to this area in particular. Development of fine motor skills encourages development of speech and memory, improves the finger, palm, wrist, hand to eye coordination, help pupils concentrate and relax, as well as suppress their excess emotions and reduce mental fatigue. Techniques chosen for the development of fine motor skills are: macramé, drawing on wood and walls, simegraphy, making of collages from natural materials and weaving of friendship bracelets perfectly fulfil the following therapeutic functions: development of sensory and motor skills, as well as helping reveal the artistic side of pupils. Drawing on wood exercises are perfect for children with various abilities levels. Some of them draw drawings by themselves and some reach their artistic fulfilment using templates, while others draw using their fingers or drawing dots, etc. Wooden works are not only pleasing to look at but also fulfil the function of coasters later on. The macramé technique is not to be mastered by everyone, but those who manage to subdue it, get to feel great satisfaction with the achieved results. Simegraphy or drawing with threads revealed a unique way to train fine motor skills, hand to eye coordination, attention, creativity and thoroughness skills, learn how to match colours and complete the tasks to their full by creating bookmarkers. During the creation of nature collages, fine motor skills are honed by placing small parts together. This also helps develop hand to eye coordination, concentrate and teach how to thoroughly complete the tasks to the end. Creative work in teams teach you to listen to the ideas of all the participants, make contributions and help each other.

   The specialists from Turkey suggest using painting techniques from nature and ebru art for development of the artistic skills of pupils. Drawing in nature not only heals the soul but also develops and helps strengthen all of the human senses, as well as charge you with energy. This is also a great therapeutic exercise both for the soul and body.  It is not easy to see the beauty in nature and transfer it on to a canvas. The specialists managed to apply this technique in the education of children having individual needs and enabled them not only to strengthen their health by moving and spending time in fresh air but also invoked the technique of painting on a wet canvas which helps amateurs pour out beautiful and eye-catching scenes. Pastel colours make you calm and soft touches with the brush encourage you to free your feelings, emotions and imagination. The end result help increase your self-worth and give you great joy. The effect of ebru art technique is even more expressive. Painting on water - protected under the UNESCO cultural heritage - does not leave anyone indifferent with the end result, fast interchanging processes and strange playfulness of colours with forms. Without the meditative therapeutic effect, this technique also has a greater therapeutic influence on the development of coordination and concentration skills. In order to achieve the desired results, it is imperative to follow the rules for drawing, concentrate your attention to the inner world, raise a brush, stick or crochet, relax and indulge yourself in the world of colours and shapes. Due to the above, the ebru technique is especially suitable for children with autism spectrum syndrome.

   Sand therapy exercises highlighted the success of the project once more. By using methods of sand therapy introduced in Lithuania, the teachers in Niğde managed to create a new drawing and therapy method using sand that is suitable for children suffering from various disorders. This method helps develop fine motor skills, cognitive processes and creativity, as well as help children them relax, reduce the excess amount of emotions and rest. Another advantage of the new technique - drawing using sand - is the ability to teach children to read, comprehend the text and recreate thereof by use of very expressive drawings.

   By searching for the methods to better the emotional state of the children with special needs, the colleagues from Turkey managed to find harmony in the dance therapy introduced in Italy with the light therapy. Erasmus+ project helped pupils of Emine Teoman Special Education and Practice Center in Niğde express their feelings and emotions, as well as show their creative skills during dance performances in neon light. This technique is truly unique due to the fact that children are able to perform in the dark. For most, darkness allows them to conquer their stage fright and help them take centre stage. As stated by the colleagues from Turkey, the dance and light technique is uniquely generous towards children with autism syndrome suffering from communication difficulties. Having felt the joy of moving in rhythm, many children manage to cross the barrier and show up along with other children in light.  

   During the visit at the Emine Teoman Special Education and Practice Center in Niğde, the participants not only experienced and tried many therapy techniques but also learned which methods are best suited for the groups of children suffering from individual development difficulties, how to apply difficult art works for children having physical and mental disorders.