Emotional well-being benefits of art for children in Myanmar based on online art classes* Below is a summary of research underway to develop an effective art education program for children in orphanages in Myanmar. Emotional well-being benefits of art for children in Myanmar based on online art classes Self-expression is critical to developing a child's identity, confidence, and sense of belonging to the world. It opens children's minds and allows them to form thoughts and ideas that can surprise them. Self-expression also helps children positively communicate their feelings. It promotes children's health and well-being by allowing them to constructively express their feelings, likes, and dislikes. Based on children's emotional development helps them learn about teamwork and caring for others. Art is a medium in which children can freely express themselves and explore their strengths and interests. As children express themselves through art, they gradually test different possibilities and work through challenges. Art enables them to find solutions to problems. They often encounter unexpected challenges when working with art materials, reading, watching, or listening to stories, and experimenting with different ideas while finding solutions to improve their problem-solving skills. The arts help children improve their social-emotional skills and develop positive mental health. They feel good when they make something or even play a role. They learn the concept of sharing and take turns thanking each other for their efforts. When young children try to grab a brush, squeeze paints, or cut a piece of paper in a controlled way, they explore their dexterity and develop fine motor skills. According to Chapman (1978), art allows children to express their ideas and develop their creativity and imagination. It is also argued that art allows opportunities for personal development as it enables children to gain confidence and promotes feelings of self-worth (Buxton, 2014; Hallam, 2014; Hewitt, 2014). Eisner (1999) comments that when done well, students in the arts are deeply engaged, their sensibilities refined, their imagination promoted, the development of technical skills fostered, and they are encouraged to appraise the quality of their own work and to make plans for the further. In particular, painting is a medium for children to express experiences or emotions that cannot be expressed in words. A child may draw and paint randomly, but it is a meaningful work of art for the child. They can experiment with creating and exploring through self-expression and creativity. Acquiring skills, completing art projects, and learning to express themselves in new ways help children gain confidence and perseverance. These things also help children develop positive emotional reactions to stressful situations. Above all, for children who struggle to express their emotions due to trauma, crises, or loss and are suppressed, art helps them understand their situation and express their emotions to face their crisis, overcome depression, and find a way through loss and sadness. Emotions, especially those caused by trauma, crisis, or loss, are difficult to express, and often words do not convey their meaning entirely. Art can be especially beneficial when situations or complex emotions need to be expressed. Making art can help people confront emotions, overcome depression, integrate traumatic experiences, and find relief and resolution from grief and loss. (McGraw-Hill, 2007: p.133) This case study explores the emotional well-being benefits of self-expression among these emotional and social effects of the arts. To this end, the research will plan to provide online art education to orphanages in Myanmar where they are deprived of educational opportunities due to long-standing military dictatorship and civil war and are experiencing continuous trauma. Online-based art education is accessible anywhere globally, especially in regions without art instructors for the required art courses. Artists or renowned art instructors can effectively help implement art education for children in these regions in schools. Furthermore, Eisner portrays that work in the arts promotes “many kinds of intellectual skills and forms of thinking” (p. 136). Given the benefit of art education it is critical for all students to have access to comprehensive art education, even if it is online. To help children constructively express their feelings and turn them into art, the case study will carry out the following activities(Dr. Sue King-Smith, 2020): * Collect various tactile materials and images. Create collages of textures, colors, and images that feel calm and happy to help to find their favorite colors and textures. * Use various materials to create images of imaginary (or real) safe places. Are there other people out there? Or a pet? Is it inside or outside? What is it made of? Picture yourself in it. * Draw or create images of superheroes. What are your superpowers? * Track around your hand. Then fill it with images of all the things that help you feel better when you're sad or angry. * Draw a self-portrait in the center of the page. Then surround yourself with photos of your strengths and everything you like about yourself. Learn to express children's feelings through a total of 5 online self-expression art activities. In addition, it will be explored the benefits of self-expression in art education to children by conducting a survey on the level of self-expression, satisfaction, and benefits of art classes with 22 children from an orphanage in Myanmar. This study will be helpful to organizations and educators interested in art education in these areas, mainly by stating how children in underdeveloped areas gain emotional well-being through art education. Primary data and case studies are also expected to be needed to develop more effective art education programs for children in underprivileged areas. Source:
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