Children are full of expression and a symphony of possibilities. Art gives them a possibility to communicate their feelings and express their heart's desire. It is crucial for children to be exposed to art education but it is equally important for art educators to be mindful and aware of the needs of the children. Children display a variety of behaviors in front of their teachers and it is up to the teachers to guide the children to express those behaviors in a more appropriate and socially acceptable manner. Neurodivergent children are more creative in nature due to their brain functioning in different settings and each child always has something to bring to the table. This report consists of the findings from various secondary source data as well as the observations from attending classes and interviewing the teachers at O' Hen Art Studio.
About O’ Hen Art Studio:
O’ Hen Art Studio is the first Visual Art & Visual Communication, Animation & Design studio in North East India with one-stop Visual Art Courses & Production House. Established in 2020 with a unique course structure it leads any age group of people towards learning the proper language of Visual Art. An interesting team made up of Visual Art creators, thinkers, writers, illustrators, designers, and animators. We keep on working on projects which allow us to stretch our creative ideas.
Their vision and mission comprises:
Visual Art Education
Visual Art Production &
Visual Art Marketplace
O’ Hen Art Studio comprises art courses varying for all age groups and skill levels. Their kid visual art courses are crafted with a vision to provide unparalleled artistic guidance for children, offering a playful, exploring, experimental, and value based approach, fostering a friendly and free-spirited environment for the evolving young artists. Some of the other courses are visual art and communication, UI/UX designing, design and visual communication, basic animation and mix courses.
Personal Reflections:
At O’ Hen Art Studio I had opted for visual art and communication for a month (30 days) and during that time, I was able to learn beyond the basic art. I learnt a lifestyle which incorporated mental and skill development. The environment is very healthy and the teachers are optimistic and caring towards the students. They do not restrict themselves to the indoor environment and often conduct outdoor classes as well. The teachers have a deep psychological understanding of their students and try their best to make the environment as safe and joyful as possible. My personal favorite moments in the studio were the cafe art session and Ghibli music playing in the background as I drew. From traditional art practices such as still life painting to a more contemporary approach of understanding the ‘why’ of the art. During the course I was able to understand the concept of abstract art, surreal art, traditional art and more, developed an artistic eye towards the world and get a better grasp of ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the art processes.
The teachers are flexible and customize the courses for their students, making them their first priority rather than art itself, which is a unique approach which I believe should be implemented more in the education system. They do not restrict the students to sticking to a syllabus but rather give the students a guideline and let them express their creativity.
Upon being given the opportunity to intern at their place while doing the course, I made this report, contributing back to the marvelous community that O’ Hen has built. The report has taken a more psychological standpoint, providing guidance and evidence for the adults, ie. parents and teachers on how to appreciate and teach art to neurodivergent children.
Basic Terminologies:
Neurodivergent: Someone whose brain performs differently than society. considers the norm. That means they have different strengths and challenges from people whose brains don't have those differences. The possible differences include medical disorders, learning disabilities and other conditions. There is varying degree of neurodivergent and no matter what their differences may be, the most important aspect that everyone should remember is they are humans no matter what, treating them differently for something they cannot control is a very negative approach which results in only harm to the individual’s health– mental and physical.
Neurodivergent means there is diversity in the brain function, just like how people have diversity in their hair colour, eyes, faces, and more, the brain also has diversity for better survival of the race. Just like how we respect cultural differences, we should learn to respect the mental differences of individuals as well. While there is diversity in neurodevelopment, children still share similarities, exhibit symptoms, respond to treatment, and are recognized with general consistency across clinicians.
“Embracing neurodiversity means meeting children where they are and enabling their participation in activities that resonate with their interests. In the journey to support neurodivergent kids, let's change the world around them rather than forcing them to change who they are.” – Adina Levy, Speech therapist.
According to the United Nations, approximately one in every six humans suffers from some form of neurological disorder. Additionally, a study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that during the period from 2009 to 2017, nearly 17% of children aged 3–17 years were diagnosed with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or learning disabilities, such as dyslexia. Further, it is estimated that approximately 10 to 15% of children are affected by sensory processing disorders (also understood or referred to as sensory sensitivities rather than disorders by some).(Finnigan, 2024)
The above stats are provided to give an understanding that it is normal and common to have such conditions and instead of being worried or afraid of the situation, embrace it and make the best out of it. You are not alone.
Neurotypical– Someone whose brain. functions in the way expected by society. Most people fall under neurotypicals and what society usually refers to when they say “normal”.
DSM-5– Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder, version 5 comprises all the mental disorders and symptoms. Any person in the field of psychology is familiar with this manual. If a parent or teacher wishes to get a more in depth understanding of mental disorder, this is recommended for understanding the various presenting symptoms for any child. This does not mean that professional help is not required for the child, this simply provides knowledge for adults to better identify the symptoms and provide support appropriately.
In simple words: it's the dictionary for psychology students and professionals.
The DSM-5 categories the following disorders under Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Intellectual Disorders Communication Disorders.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Specific Learning Disorders
Motor Disorders
Tic Disorders
Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders
ADHD being the most common neurodivergent disorder in children affecting 5-7% of school children. ADHD usually develops before age 7, though sometimes symptoms are not noticeable until a child is somewhat older and encounters more challenging academic and social situations.
Fine motor: Generally thought of as the movement and use of hands and upper extremities, fine motor skills include reaching, grasping and manipulating objects with your hands. Fine motor skills also involve vision, specifically visual motor skills, often referred to hand-eye coordination.
People working at O’ Hen Art Studio, are well versed in the basic symptoms of ADHD, Autism, Specific learning disorders and conduct disorder. Not restricting to these disorders but starting with these will be enough to understand the student’s needs better. If the student is already diagnosed, it is recommended for the teachers in the studio to know about it from the family and assist them accordingly.
Donna Subhalaxmi
A Student of Visual Art & Psychology
Great initiative ! A very insightful writing for all the parents and mentors.