EDUCATION OF JUNIOR PUPIL’S PERSONALITY BY MEANS OF ART THERAPY

Abstract

The article examines the problem of education of junior pupil’s personality by means of art therapy. The reform of education and science requires from modern teachers to use innovative technologies in the educational process of primary school as a mandatory element. An analysis of scientific sources was carried out, which gives grounds for asserting that the use of art therapy provides comprehensive harmonious development of the pupil’s personality. It was determined that art therapy refers to a personally oriented technology of children’s education through a constructive union of the child and art in the process of perceiving already existing or self-created works of art. The use of art therapy in the educational process is a vivid example of humane pedagogy based on unconditional acceptance of each child, awareness of his/her uniqueness and unlimited possibilities of spiritual development. The use of art therapy in lessons in primary school is quite effective mechanism for adjusting pupils to calm down, relax, rest, and change-over from a nervous to a calm state. Within the scope of this study, art therapy is considered as a synthesis of knowledge from art, psychology, psychotherapy and pedagogy, which allows us to understand the process of forming pupil’s personality through the prism of personal, artistic, aesthetic, and cultural development. The origin of art therapy as a term and sphere of application was also clarified. Art therapy as a method allows pupils to learn about the world through art, to reveal their individual characteristics without being ashamed of them. The introduction of art therapy into the educational process of primary school contributes to increasing pupils’ level of motivation, the formation of their positive self-esteem, the perception of their inner “I” and readiness for socialization. The main types of art therapy, which are used by teachers in the process of education are defined, in particular, music therapy, fairy-tale therapy, and visual art therapy. The examples of exercises for each type of art therapy are given.