Stimulate and Integrate your Child's Brain

An art journal can be a very powerful tool — especially for those with special needs.


An art journal is like a regular writing journal with the exception that you use expressive arts to produce your entries. This is especially useful for individuals who lack the ability to articulate with words or lack speech all together. However, it seems that an art journal can help not only with communication, but can improve brain function as well.


I have utilized art journaling in many therapy groups with my former clients and one technique I had the most fun with was the Non-Dominate Hand Technique. Of course the clients thought it was fun which improved their mood and stimulated socialization, but there is a larger benefit occurring as well.


The Non-Dominate Hand Technique is unique because it utilizes both sides of the brain: verbal, critical thinking left hemisphere and the artistic, intuitive right hemisphere. Using the non-dominant hand helps to INTEGRATE the two brain hemispheres. For kids who have mis-wired brains or brain dysfunction this activity can stimulate the various functions of the two brain hemispheres.


Stimulate and Integrate your child’s brain—start an art journal.

Left Brain Functions
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe

Right Brain Functions
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking