31/03/2025
Activity: Expressing Emotions Nonverbally (For a Child with Selective Mutism)
Objective:
To help a child with selective mutism express emotions through a creative, nonverbal approach using drawing and playdough.
Steps of the Activity:
1. Preparation (Setting the Scene)
• Choose a quiet and comfortable space where the child feels safe.
• Provide a blank sheet of paper, colored playdough, and a pencil.
• Avoid verbal pressure; instead, use gestures and warm facial expressions to create a relaxed atmosphere.
2. Introducing the Activity (Building Comfort & Engagement)
• Begin by drawing a simple human figure on the paper (or allow the child to do so).
• Say something neutral like, “Let’s use colors and shapes to show how this person is feeling.”
• If the child prefers nonverbal cues, you can demonstrate by adding a small shape (e.g., a dot or a smile) to the drawing.
3. Expressing Emotions with Playdough (Creative Exploration)
• Encourage the child to pick playdough colors to represent different emotions (if they don’t assign meaning, allow free expression).
• Guide them by making shapes like:
• Circles for happy feelings
• Small dots for thoughts
• Wavy lines for excitement or confusion
• A mix of colors for complex emotions
• Observe their choices without correcting them—each expression is unique.
4. Expanding the Narrative (Encouraging Deeper Expression)
• Ask open-ended questions with a gentle and engaging tone:
• “What do you think this person is feeling?”
• “Would you like to add more?”
• “Where is this person going?” (to introduce storytelling)
• If the child remains nonverbal, respond to their work with affirmations like “I see you’ve added more yellow. It looks bright and happy!”
5. Reflection (Closing the Activity Positively)
• Once the child has finished, acknowledge their effort:
• “This looks really expressive! Would you like to name the picture?”
• If they don’t respond, simply summarize what they created in a positive tone.
• Allow the child to keep or display the artwork if they wish.
