Therapeutic Activities in Children

Therapeutic activities can help children to express themselves, overcome grief or stress and learn new skills, according to RecoverfromGrief.com. Therapeutic activities are also enjoyable and will provide the child with mental stimulation and possibly a new hobby. Parents can encourage children to practice these activities in replace of other activities, such as watching television and playing video games, which only require a low amount of brain activity.

Drawing

• Many health professionals provide drawing equipment for children after they have experienced a trauma. Drawing and painting can help children of all ages to express themselves, and this activity can be practiced at home or at locally held art sessions. Parents can encourage children to draw by providing equipment such as crayons, felt-tips, pencils and paints.

Sculpture

• Modeling with clay, play dough or paper-mache is another way in which children can be creative with a variety of mentally stimulating projects. Young children can make masks or 3-dimensional characters and older children can learn how to make pottery, which they can then paint. Parents can encourage these activities by providing suitable materials and getting involved in the sculpture project with their children. Young children can also practice sculpting with wet sand.

Puzzles

• Puzzles such as jigsaws and Lego can be therapeutic and can also help children feel a sense of accomplishment after completing something they have worked at. ADHD Child Parenting recommends puzzles as a therapeutic activity for children who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, as these games can encourage the child to hold his attention, which can help him to develop good habits. Young children should not be given small puzzle pieces, as they could swallow them. Instead parents should provide large blocks to encourage them to build.

Physical Activities

• Children require at least one hour of physical activity everyday to stay healthy, according to WebMD. Physical activities such as dance can also encourage a child to express herself. Children between the ages of three and five should be encouraged to enjoy physical play, including climbing, hanging, running, skipping, jumping and pedaling. Parents can take young children to play at a local jungle gym. Children between six and eight years can practice activities such as ice skating, cycling and swimming. Children aged nine and over can choose to pursue a sport they enjoy such as team sports or activities such as hiking or martial arts.