Izvorni znanstveni članak

ART TEACHERS AND ABUSED CHILDREN

Vesna Vesela Bilić ; Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb, Croatia

Sažetak

The aim of this paper is to provide a basic overview of how art teachers can use art drawings (artistic expression) to identify and assist children who are traumatized by abuse.
Children's exposure to different forms of child abuse in families (physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect), and exposure to traditional (bullying) or electronic (cyberbullying) peer violence may result in  serious consequences for the child's health, welfare and functioning in life and school.
Since the abused children have difficulties verbalizing inner emotional states and experiences due to fear, shame, trauma repetition and memory difficulties, artistic expression through symbols can help them externalize cognitively difficult experience and thus reduce the symptoms of trauma and feelings of powerlessness.
Knowing the specifics of drawings of the abused children can significantly  contribute to the recognition of this problem, and serve as a starting point for the discussions with children about what they wanted to express (indirect interview). As suggested, conclusions should not be made about the possible abuse on the basis of a single drawing, but a series of drawings containing a number of distinctive signs, which are complemented by information obtained through  conversation with the child.
Schools frequently present the only safe environment for the abused children, and teachers are important persons who can help children access  the inner world through artistic expression, and in case of abuse, offer them help and protection, therefore, their education regarding this issue is imperative.

Ključne riječi

abused child's drawings; bullying; domestic abuse

Hrčak ID:

78071

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/78071

Datum izdavanja:

29.12.2011.

Podaci na drugim jezicima: hrvatski

Posjeta: 3.943 *