Education Taiwan Project #59501

Art Therapy for Early Intervention Children

by Taiwan Fund for Children and Families

Project Report | Apr 12, 2025
Art Therapy for Autism: How a Child Overcame Restrictions and Built Resilience

By Mavis Tsai | Project Leader

My brand-new rainbow art work! Guess what's this!

The world of a child with autism is one that many of us struggle to fully understand. Today, through the eyes of a dedicated therapist, we invite you to step into this world and witness a child's journey of growth, challenges, and discovery:

Juno’s World of Patterns and Order

When Juno first joined art therapy four months ago, he found comfort in order and repetition, carefully arranging colors and focusing on Mandarin Bopomofo signs. Any disruption unsettled him, shaking the structured world he had built. To help him navigate imperfections, I gently introduced small challenges. When some Bopomofo toys were missing, his anxiety surfaced, but instead of dwelling on the loss, I encouraged him to create the missing signs with Lego or playdough. Though hesitant at first, he gradually began to accept change and explore new possibilities. As he adapted, his emotional range also expanded—where he once swung between calm and anger, he began to show hesitation, frustration, and quiet contemplation. These small shifts marked an important step in his ability to break free from rigid patterns and express himself in new ways.

Intense Outburst as a Pivotal Point

Juno's emotions eventually surfaced in an intense but nonverbal outburst. One day, I offered him a paper cup filled with sparkly flakes. He responded by repeatedly throwing sparkly flakes while pretending to fall onto a mattress, as if testing a boundary. When I asked if he was doing it on purpose, he initially denied it before he finally admitted his intent. At that moment, his demeanor shifted—he laughed and grabbed the cup from my hands with intensity. This was a pivotal moment, for the first time, he allowed himself to fully express something raw and unfiltered. I responded by making it clear that while the action itself was not okay, I did not dislike him as a person and was open to discussing his feelings.

Juno’s Breakthrough: Creativity as Solution

Following this emotional release, Juno’s creativity flourished. He moved beyond arranging Duplo bricks in familiar patterns, he turned the bricks vertically and stacked them into a new structure. This was his first spontaneous artistic experiment. He then made an imaginative leap, looking at his creation and saying, "This is a schoolbag." This is a breakthrough moment where he transformed his emotional energy into something symbolic, creative, and socially recognizable.

The Power of Art Therapy

Juno’s journey in art therapy highlights how creativity can serve as a bridge between emotions and expression. Through gradual challenges, emotional exploration, and creative engagement, he moved from rigid thinking toward greater flexibility, from repression to expression, and from unfiltered emotional outbursts to constructive creation.

Art therapy opens doors to new ways of seeing and experiencing the world. Juno’s story is just one example of how creativity can bring profound emotional and developmental growth. Your support offers opportunities for more children like Juno who are waiting for turning point in life through creativity.

I'd like everything to be in rainbow's order!

Look at this big big rainbow I made!

In, out, in, out! These are all my treasures!

It's my school bag in rainbow's colors!

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Dec 21, 2024
Sounds of Hope in Art Therapy: Murray's Story

By Mavis Tsai | Project Leader

Beautiful colors made with shaving foam and paint

A Gift of Connection for Murray

This holiday season, we’re reminded of children like Murray, a five-year-old boy with hydrocephalus who engages with the world through both music and art. In class, Murray’s developmental delays and visual impairment make it hard for him to connect. He often drifts around or engages in repetitive actions, lacking motivation to interact with others.

Opening New Doors Through Art Therapy

When Murray began art therapy, he struggled to engage, retreating into familiar routines like repeating the same two notes of a song. Yet his therapist responded creatively, varying the melody while keeping the lyrics familiar. Slowly, Murray began to join in, singing variations back. Encouraged by this progress, he even tried new art materials with growing openness, showing his ability to explore beyond his usual routines.

Murray’s perspective:

“At first, I didn’t understand the sessions. I stayed quiet, unsure. Then, I sang two notes of my favorite song, and the therapist sang back. I wanted more, but she showed me I had to give back, too. Soon, I tried painting and shaving foam—it felt so new and exciting.”

Meeting the Needs of More Children Like Murray

Murray’s journey reflects the need for sustained, patient support, yet resources for children like him remain limited. At TFCF Taichung City Child Development Center, only 2-3 children can receive 40-minute art therapy sessions each week, though many more children in daycare need emotional support. With consistent therapy, Murray could continue breaking restrictive patterns, learning to interact more with his peers and engage in class activities. Your kind donation could make these changes possible.

Sending Out the Gift of Hope

Art therapy has begun to open doors for Murray, and with your help, we can reach more children in need of emotional support. In this holiday season, it’s a time for us to send out love. Together, let’s give the gift of hope, connection, and a brighter future for all children.

With gratitude,

Mavis Tsai

What smells so good and it looks so colorful!

With a soft ball in my hand, I'm happy to explore!

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Aug 30, 2024
Transforming Lives Through Art Therapy: Jerry's Story

By Mavis Tsai | Project Leader

Making my body portrait to learn about myself

Meet Jerry (pseudonym), a bright and sensitive boy diagnosed with mild developmental delay. Despite his reserved nature and hypersensitivity, Jerry has excelled in his special-education kindergarten, showing a willingness to try new things. In February 2023, Jerry joined our children's art therapy project. Initially, he thrived, but sometimes unexpected incidents made him freeze and he became unresponsive to questions about his feelings or needs.This hindered his full participation in the group sessions.

Apart from this challenge, Jerry's behavior varies between school and home. At school, he holds himself to high standards, shows a sense of responsibility, supports his peers, and responds well to teachers. However, at home, he sometimes shows distress. It indicates that Jerry needs more safe space to express his negative feelings. Recognizing the need for a safe space for Jerry to express his emotions, we transitioned to one-on-one sessions. This personalized approach has helped him engage more fully in art therapy and communicate better.

In these one-on-one sessions, Jerry used animal toys and Lego bricks to tell stories, expressing a range of emotions. For example, he once built railway tracks running right through a parking lot, symbolizing the multiple tasks he juggles and challenges he faces in similar situation. Encouraged by the therapist, Jerry found a way for the two structures to coexist by building the tracks on a bridge over the parking lot. This small, creative success boosted his confidence in problem-solving in real life.

In another session, Jerry quickly built a “skyscraper” with Lego bricks that would have fallen without the therapist’s help, demonstrating his tendency to act more mature than he truly was. Realizing the importance for Jerry to grow at his own pace, the therapist then introduced a free-form and sensory-rich medium, sand, to encourage Jerry to explore and create without boundaries. Jerry's response to the sand was very positive. It allows him to explore freely without the need to act mature.

Thanks to your support to our art therapy sessions, Jerry's communication skills and openness have improved, preparing him to transition to an inclusive educational system. There are other children with similar needs in Jerry’s school, with your continued support, they will have the opportunities to thrive. With your donation, we are able to provide the essential resources and therapy sessions that help these children express their feelings, develop crucial skills, and build a brighter future. Your kindness and generosity is very much appreciated!

With gratitude,

Mavis Tsai

Creating a world with my own hands

Problem-solving skills learned while playing.

Building a tall tower with Lego bricks

Playing with sand unleashes my creativity

Concentrating on creating artwork.

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