Crafts Can Stimulate the Mind
May was Mental Health Awareness month, which inspired the thought of sharing how various art activities and utilizing different mediums can stimulate our intellect and mind while kids are out of school for summer. It’s also a great fun way to connect and bond with family.
Fun brain games with art can encourage critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity. Examples of mediums include drawing, painting, writing and unconventional crafty projects. Here are some unique brain games with art for all ages to try on your own or with others.
* Make your own art puzzle by coloring your own puzzle pieces and assembling them (see photo example)
* Back-and-Forth Drawing or Connecting Painting. Take turns adding to a collaborative drawing. I call this “musical canvas,” where you incorporate music and much like musical chairs, switch the art back and forth until an image is made. Or work together to connect a painting to make one image (see photo example).
* Scribble Drawing Game. A quick scribble for a drawing prompt and see what it reminds you of, then turn it into a drawing of your own or make it into an evolving abstract painting (see image).
* Blind Contour Drawing. A fun drawing technique to see what you can make, either looking at an image/still-life or something from your thoughts/imagination without looking at your paper at all!
Trying these games and creating these activities promote cognitive growth, enhance fine motor skills, and can even increase dopamine levels, leading to feelings of happiness and well-being.
Critical thinking and problem-solving art projects often involve making choices about colors, arrangements, and compositions, which encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Art activities that enhance cognitive stimulation and memory may include drawing, painting, or even coloring, which stimulate the brain by engaging different areas, including the visual and motor cortex.
Learning a new artistic skill, like drawing, requires memory and focus, which can help improve memory and cognitive function.
Art projects inspire creativity and imagination and provide a space for creative expression while allowing individuals to explore different ideas and perspectives. Activities such as writing stories, painting abstract designs, or creating sculptures with clay can encourage this imagination and creativity. These activities also enhance fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Art is a powerful tool for emotional expression, well-being, and beneficial for overall mental health. It helps with processing emotions and finding a healthy outlet for feelings. Tapping into your creative side and just appreciating art in itself can increase dopamine levels in the brain, heal, and lead to feelings of happiness and well-being.
Keep creating!
Diana Shabtai “MissDee, Psy.D., ATR-BC is a board certified art therapist who obtained a masters degree in clinical art therapy, ma in marriage & family therapy & a doctorate degree in MFT. She is passionate advocate for bringing awareness to the therapeutic benefits of art. Experience studying, working, & educating in the field of psychology & the therapeutic arts for nearly 20 years. she is a contributing writer to jlife magazine.