Creative Wellness in Schools

Schools are busy intense environments full of exciting events, complex energies, a rich weave of personalities and a general sense of propulsion towards deadlines and milestones! Part of which is the energetic build up as each school year culminates in reports, sometimes exams, performances,  ceremonies,  and even partings for some. I have worked in schools for 30 years and feel very familiar with the rhythms of the school year and the cycle of emotions that academic pressure can bring.

Socially students experience the growth and shifts of friendships throughout their school life and in the teenage years, self awareness is heightened. This can mean they experience a sense of promise as they approach new horizons which can be mingled with fear and  questions about their identity, as they transition through school and the accompanying social groups. Big life choices may have to be made; alongside the academic pressures of Hong Kong.

Employers generally are becoming aware of the need to provide their staff with pockets of calm and restoration to avoid stress, burn out and workplace sickness. Schools are also realising that this restoration needs to be formally put in place for both teachers and students alike. Many schools are activating Wellness activities and even Wellness weeks to enable people to breathe and experience a pause in the day to day routine.

The Arts for Self Care, Wellness and Growth

As an Art Therapist and Art Educator I have witnessed the benefits of hands on engagement with art activities  over and over again in many contexts. Art making can help people to create their own quiet inner space, access their deeper stories, manage stress, create coping skills, foster self-expression, find growth solutions and to strengthen a sense of self.

Mindfulness and Decompression for Teacher and Student groups

Non verbal activities can be extremely self soothing as they help to regulate the system, calm the amygdala and can lead to an increased sense of self efficacy and vitality. The creation of mandalas or zentangles provide mindful opportunities to work within an open structure and people relax into the rhythm of repeated mark making, as they grow their designs. 

Animals Asia Mandala Workshop

                                     GSIS half day Mandala Activity for teachers                             CIS Arts and Wellness week

CIS student

Team Building for Teacher and Student groups

Engaging in visual collaborations allows people the opportunity to create their own individual artworks and yet contribute a piece to a larger whole ( such as the school or organisation). This can be themed and directed accordingly. This can help people in better understanding and valuing their peers and can help build connections, partnerships, and morale. Art-making becomes a means of getting to get to know one another, identify strengths, and build collegial relationships while honoring individuality.

Sketchbetter team collaboration

Kailua Play Therapists group

Collaborative mandalas: Kailua Play Therapists Group

HKIS Student Collaboration

Mindfulness and Decompression for individuals

Art Therapist and researcher Elizabeth Warson tells us that 15 mins of drawing can reduce cortisol production. The gentle act of watercolour painting is also a portal to calming an anxious mind as the repetitive nature of the strokes reveal effortless colour mixing and provides a quiet space again, to pause and find some inner quiet. 

 HKIS Primary: Painting for calm

HKIS Primary: Calm Down Doodle books

Expressive activities for students and teachers 

Finding ways to access personal stories, events, situations or even workplace dynamics through the visual arts can help people to witness and process these.  This can lead to increased self awareness, new perspectives on specific situations and provide talking points and pathways to solutions.

 Mums and Daughters group:Scribble Stories

Kailua Play Therapists : How to share an Island

" Listening In "

A Visual Art Journaling program for Teenagers

Exploring personal stories through art making can help people to reframe challenges, to develop new perspectives and articulate their inner world. The “Listening In” Visual Art Journaling process is aimed at supporting students during this time by giving them safe and personal ways to explore some of the issues and themes that come up. 

CIS student: 2 day journal page 

Themes can include :

Listening Inside
Feelings Vocabulary
Self Care 

Body kindness

Growing Resilience

Quieting the Mind
Intrusive Thoughts
Identity
Self Awareness
Self Acceptance
Friendship
Ingredients of Friendships
Boundaries

Workshops can be offered as

A one-day session or a half day workshop

A weekly after school visual art Journaling activity (1½ to 2 hours)per week

 A two -five-day process as part of an arts week / project week/ art camp

One Hour Journaling : Katie Flowers 

Katie Flowers has been working with students and teachers in Hong Kong schools and the community for almost thirty years. Wild at Art can offer a variety of Creative Wellness workshops for schools and can tailor activities to suit the population, the time schedule and the goals of the activity.

Please contact me:

Katie Flowers 

on 

wildatartweekly@gmail.com 

to discuss the needs of your organisation.

Katie Flowers 

B Ed Hons :  Exeter University, UK

MA Ed : Hamline University, St Paul Minnesota

Certified Art Therapist :Adv Dip AT

Trauma Informed Practice ( level one) 

FOAT ( Level one)