From the author: published on the website It is no secret that it is often difficult for a child to find words to express how he feels, to say about his secret desires or fears. And sometimes he stops talking completely and withdraws into himself. The solution may be easier than you think - invite him to play together! While playing, the child experiences pleasure and feels free. He is not afraid to make mistakes or do something wrong. In the game, his consciousness is freed, and he can boldly express himself and his feelings. It has long been known that creative activity has a unique property: it brings to the surface everything hidden, hidden deep inside us, that we are not aware of and that sometimes prevents us from enjoying life... This is exactly what art therapy is aimed at (art therapy ), the main goal of which is creative self-expression of the individual. Play and creative activities will tell you a lot of new things about your baby, and then you will see what he is silent about or doesn’t even realize in free and uninhibited children’s play. Art therapy is a popular area of ​​modern psychology that allows you to use a person’s creative resources and through art to express everything that worries him. Classes using art therapy methods help develop fine motor skills, increase children's self-esteem and reveal their internal resources. Understanding the full value of art therapy, we widely use it when working with children in our Children's City "Lesiki" and want to share its secrets with you. There are many types of art therapy: Animation therapy - the use of animation techniques; Art synthesis therapy - a combination of painting , poetry, drama and theater, rhetoric and plastic arts; Bibliotherapy - work with books, literature; Video therapy - using video as a tool; Drama therapy - theater and acting; Game therapy - therapy through play, game situations; Isotherapy - visual arts, painting, graphics; Music therapy - music as a therapeutic tool; Origami - paper figures; Sand therapy - working with sand; Fairytale therapy - playing and analyzing fairy tales; And many other types. The most common of them are isotherapy, fairy tale therapy, play and sand therapy. Isotherapy Drawing therapy allows you to understand and feel yourself, learn to freely express your thoughts and feelings. The technique gently helps to get rid of the burden of the past and develops sensory-motor coordination. Fairy tale therapy Fairy tales can cause emotional resonance not only in children, but also in adults. They help to perceive the world as a holistic phenomenon, provide the opportunity to dream and thereby expand consciousness, improving interaction with the surrounding reality. This technique activates creativity and allows you to “reach out” to each participant. Game therapy Through play, close relationships arise between participants, tension is reduced and self-esteem increases. The child becomes more confident in various communication situations. Play therapy can be described as a person's feelings, thoughts and desires projected onto toys and other objects. This is a unique way of exploring past experiences with the ability to keep a safe distance from reality. Sand therapy The main goal is to help achieve the effect of self-healing through spontaneous creative self-expression. This method helps to organize internal mental chaos, work through traumatic situations on a symbolic level, and change the child’s attitude towards himself, his past, present and future. It is not difficult to use art therapy methods yourself. In the summer at the seaside, build sand castles with your children, play ball, do some drawing on a rainy day, and read a fairy tale at night. But before you prefer any method, get to know it in more detail. There are many recommendations for their use. For example, it’s better to start with a drawing. Preference should be given to paints, since the brush is more!