Experimental based Beautiful Patterns interaction
All children love colour but do they understand how colour can help them in these formative years by learning valuable life skills presented in a fun and colourful way. it’s essential for children to discover the benefits of critical creative thinking such as concentration, cause and effect, adaptation, interdependence, diversity, individuality and incivility; such as life and living, energy and change, matter and materials, planet earth and beyond. Our school program aims to present SKVA, Skill, Knowledge, Values and Attitudes for Self fulfillment and meaningful participation through the use of kaleidoscopes and colour. Most children find great joy and pleasure in drawing and painting, in fact any form of creative activity where colour is involved.
Children have a natural affiliation with certain colours and respond better to some colours than others, helping them to express themselves without the need for words. Colour has been show to represent a wonderful safe space in which children can achieve and develop their self-affirmation while creating something uniquely their own. Kaleidoscopes help to break down barriers to learning. Simply sitting and quietly gazing into the kaleidoscope image evokes the ‘listening’ eye. Over time these kaleidoscopic patterns access neuron-pathways to deepen levels of creative whole brain thinking. Each child gets the opportunity to observe, experiment, communicate, investigate and design either their own kaleidoscope or dance in the light. During our workshops parents and teachers can watch as children come out of their shells, observe hyperactive children calm down and in general witness over a short period of time how children become emotionally open and receptive, which helps you the parents and educators translate and transfer knowledge easier. One of the ways in which colour in kaleidoscopes can be incorporated daily into children’s lives, is to use the kaleidoscope first thing in the morning and/or last thing at night, or just as classes start in the morning for 5 minutes.
Different colours have noticeable effects on children, For example blue can cause the body to relax and to calm down lowering blood pressure and pulse rate, so is a good colour to help the brain to relax (ideal for hyperactive children or to aid rest). Conversely red is used to increase adrenaline and energy levels and raises blood pressure and pulse rate, which can be useful to know when presenting any physical activities such as sports. Orange is an emotional stimulant, whereas yellow is a mental tonic and good for improving listening and attention skills.
Colours children wear, visualise and eat as well as colour decor and colour aroma all play a part. Research into the use of coloured filters to help with dyslexic children was found to help them keep work on the page. Additionally assisting with headaches, sore eyes, blurred print and fatigue. Children who suffer from tantrums, hyperactivity, sleepless nights, tummy ache’s (usually caused by anxiety ) or night fears have proven to benefit from using their kaleidoscopes at night before they go to sleep to calm down. It has been noted that their breathing becomes easier and more regular. They may let out a sigh or two as they become more relaxed & their whole emotional body returns to a calm and balanced state. What’s your child’s mood? Is he or she happy, excited, sad, frightened or angry? Psychotherapists teach children to distinguish feelings using colour. They get to draw on a piece of paper what they are feeling using colours, then they discuss them in a positive way. This technique is known as ‘Colour your life’. The best results are achieved with children above six, who know the names of colours and understand their own feelings. For example if he or she is sometimes happy, sometimes sad, then he or she may use different colours to help connected with different moods. This technique is also used when working with colour therapy for children to help children become more self-aware by helping them to get in touch with what they are feeling both good and bad. The use of colour and specifically the work done with kaleidoscope’s is to understand what colours are and how you can use them to empower and gain a greater sense of self-affirmation and self-worth.