The impact of creative activity on the development of a child with individual needs – a case study

Abstract

The following case study discusses the impact of a child’s creative activity on its development and its role as an invaluable tool in its development constituting a bridge between its inner world and the surrounding reality, and at the same time attempts to prove that it is a manifestation of intimate being and the psychological bond between people and social life. The text attempts to show that children’s artistic creativity is closely linked to their own, specific experiences and simultaneously forms the basis of an investigative attitude. This case study intended to highlight that art is not the same for a child as it is for an adult, using information from the book by V. Lowenfeld and W.L. Brittain, where the authors emphasize that “Art for a child is something entirely different – primarily it is a means of expression”. The work includes content indicating that painting is a creative and dynamic activity for a child. Artistic expression evolves and reflects the child’s psyche. The text presents arguments suggesting that art, especially painting, plays a key role in a child’s emotional, social, and intellectual development. Using the example of working with a child, it demonstrates how a child’s artistic activity teaches emotional expression, develops cognitive abilities, shapes social skills, and enables a better understanding of themselves and the world they live in. This case study illustrates the creative activities of a child as an invaluable tool in their development, acting as a bridge between their inner world and the surrounding reality. For the research purpose, activities were conducted with Ania, a girl with moderate intellectual disability. Tadeusz Brzozowski’s paintings were used as supplementary research material.