Arts For Wellbeing - Ages 3-5 PDF

Ages
3-5
Art For Wellbeing

A Parent's Guide
What’s this about?
NalandaWay Foundation brings to you the ‘Art for
Wellbeing – A Parent’s Guide’. The rapid spread of the
COVID-19 pandemic has forced our everyday routines
to take a backseat. We have also witnessed an
irrational rise in public fear and anxieties. Children are
highly affected by this. The need of the hour are tools
for engagement that will help parents and children
identify and overcome their fears and stress.
NalandaWay Foundation is an award-winning NGO,

which uses visual and performing Arts to help
children from disadvantaged communities in India.
Given the need of the hour, NalandaWay steps in with
our unique initiative to help adults and children alike
cope with the stresses of their time. It is an invitation
to put away your phones and computers, take a break
from the constant buzz of media and let yourself be
absorbed by artwork that is refreshing and restorative.
“Art for Wellbeing - A Parent’s Guide” has age-

specific art activities that will help children and their
caregivers, regulate their emotions and also help
them become empathetic.
A Identifying emotions
People begin to feel and express a variety of
emotions from the minute they are born. As
children begin to grow, their encounters with
the outside world introduce them to new
emotions that shape their personalities. Very
young children display emotions of sadness,
happiness and anger. As children near the age
of 3, they assimilate a wider range of emotions
such as excitement, fear and care. As they
grow up, they are introduced to the school
environment where their emotions evolve and
take the shape of disgust, shame, anxiety,
empathy, amusement, confusion, boredom,
relief and triumph.
Identifying emotions is an important part of building a self-image for each child.

Prompting children to talk about their emotions, helps them identify coping strategies
that are constructive and helpful in building positive images about the self and the
world.
Instructions for activities
1. Activities 1 and 2 in each activity set are built on the theme of ‘Identifying
Emotions’.
2. The activities are built to ask the individual to reflect on their emotions and help
them express it through art (i.e. colours, body movements, talk and thought).
3. Every activity begins with asking the individual their current emotional state based
on a situation or the range of emotions that they have experienced.
4. If your child has difficulty in putting into words what their emotions are, give them
examples with leading words such as ‘happy’, ‘sad’, ‘angry’, ‘excited’ and so on.
5. Identifying emotions is the first step towards dealing with them. Ensure you
approach your child with care, caution and an open mind which allows them to
express freely both their positive and negative emotions.
6. When children express their negative emotions, talk to them about why they felt
that emotion. Treat the emotion with care, without being dismissive of the causes of
the negative emotion.
7. Help them complete the activity on the theme. Once you complete the activity, ask
your child if doing the activity made them feel good and if they were able to express
all the emotions they were feeling.
Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1 Name your feelings
Materials required
1. Crayons. I have feelings sheet
2. A printout of the ‘I have feelings’
sheet.
3. The Story ‘Angry Akku’ on the Story
Weaver website.
Instructions
1. Give a printout of the ‘I have
feelings’ sheet to the child and ask
him/her to fill the emoticons with
the colour of their choice.
2. Read aloud the story of ‘Angry
Akku’ to them and ask them the
following questions:
a. How did Akku feel when she

tripped and fell on a brick? Story: Angry Akku
b. How did she feel when the boys

laughed?
c. How did she feel when her idli
fell off the box?
d. How did she feel when the crow
took away the idli?
e. How did she feel when the
teacher hugged her?
f. How did she feel when the
teacher pinched her cheeks?
g. How did Akku’s father calm her
down?
Post-activity prayer: Close your eyes

and pray for everyone to be safe and
happy.
Story link: https://storyweaver.org.in/
search?query=angry%20akku

I have feelings
Happy Sad
Mad Scared

2 Box the ball
Materials required
1. Crayons.
2. Two cardboard box lids.
3. 1 soft ball.
4. 4 small balls of different colours.
Instructions
Individual activity:
1. Take one cardboard box lid.
2. On the inside draw an outline of a
frog and colour it as shown in the
picture.
3. Cut out holes in place of the eyes.
4. Ask your child to try and drop the
ball through the eye.
Group Activity:
1. Take a lid of the cardboard box
2. On the inside draw an outline of a
teddy bear as shown in the picture.
3. Cut out holes in the ears.
4. Ask your child and his/her friends to
try and drop the ball through holes
in the ear.
Discussion:
1. Ask the children if they had fun.
2. Develop a scorecard to capture
points for each time they drop a
ball.
3. Ask the child to mark the score
himself/herself.
4. You can add a variation to the
game by giving different scores for
different colours.
Example: red=4, green=3, yellow=2,
white =1.

B Coping strategies
Children at an age as young as 9-months experience
emotions of separation anxiety. Children grow up in
a world where they are confronted with a variety of
circumstances that affect their emotions and views
of the world. Learning to address their fears and
anxieties and understanding what gives them joy is
a key part of the socio-emotional development of a
child.
Coping strategies are designed to help children and

adults identify what causes them stress and what
are healthy ways of reducing their stress. The coping
strategy employed seeks to reconnect the individual
with their innermost emotions and address the root
cause of the stressors.
1. Activities 3 to 18 in each activity set are built on the theme of ‘Coping Strategies’.
2. The activities are built to ask the individual to engage in an activity which reflects
their emotional state and work constructively towards generating and sustaining
positivity through it.
3. The activities are scaffolded in such a way that engagement for young children
might be on concepts of family and bonding and as they age there is a staggered
rise in complexity of the activities, allowing them to express complex feelings in a
variety of ways.
4. At the beginning of the activity, ask your child about their current emotional state.
5. Help them complete the activity.
6. If your child was feeling negative emotions at the beginning of the activity, ask
them if doing the activity made them feel better or if it provided them a creative and
productive outlet to vent their feelings.
7. If your child was feeling positive emotions at the beginning of the activity, ask them
if doing the activity helped them retain those positive emotions and helped them
build on their happiness.
8. As a critical thinking exercise, at the end of the activity, you could ask your child
if the activity helped them think about their emotions and why they felt those
emotions. Ask them if they now know how to deal with emotions that cause them
pain and sadness.

3 Karma’s emotions
Materials required
1. Crayons. Karma’s Emotions sheet
2. A printout of the ‘Karma’s Emotions’
sheet.
Instructions
1. Take a printout of the ‘Karma’s

Emotions’ sheet.
2. Explain to your child the three
emotions.
3. Ask the child to colour Karma
according to the feelings/emotions
indicated in the situation.
Discussion:
2. Ask the child examples of when
they could be sad, calm and mad.
(You might be surprised with their
responses!)
Resource Credit: Centervention

Karma is a chameleon. A lot of people think chameleon change color to match their
surroundings. But they REALLY change color to show their moods or feelings.
SAD CALM MAD

Direction: Colour Karma according to how you think she feels in each situation.
1. Karma lost her favourite toy.
2. Karma’s friend pushed her down while they

were playing.
3. Karma’s best friend is coming home to

spend time with her.
4. Karma’s school is closed and she cannot

meet her favourite teacher.

4 Let’s weave a baby turtle!
Step:1
Materials required
(for 1 baby turtle)
1. 3 ice-cream sticks.
2. 3 differently coloured bales of wool/
thread.
Instructions
1. Keep the materials ready.

2. Follow the instructions and make Step:2
the turtle.
3. Give a name for each turtle.
4. You can create a story about the
turtles.
5. You can also gift it to your friends/
sister/brother.
happy.
Resource:
http://www.pinkstripeysocks.com/
Step:3

5 Let us scribble away
Materials required
1. One A4-sized sheet of paper. Scribble Art
2. Crayons.
3. Pencil.
Instructions
1. Keep the materials ready.

2. Take your pencil and do a big
scribble on the paper as shown in
the picture.
3. Colour each portion in different
colours as shown in the picture.
4. After colouring, draw an outline for
each of the shapes.
5. Your little Picasso’s painting is
ready!
6. Have a conversation on the colours
your child chose.
7. Ask them how they felt about doing
this activity?
happy.

6 Family tree
Materials required
1. Old photos.
2. 1 A4-sized sheet of paper.
3. Sketch pens.
4. Crayons.
Instructions
1. Sit down on the couch and pull out old family albums.
2. Discuss the events and people in the pictures. Teach your kids about your family
history.
3. Ask them if they remember any good memory spent together as a family.
4. Ask them to draw the faces of your close family members.
5. Draw a tree and paste the cut-out faces of the family members your child has
drawn and help them label the pictures.
Post-activity prayer: Do a 2-minute prayer for the wellness of your family, relatives,
friends and everyone in the universe.
Resource link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA8fxPzUw1E
10

7 Friendly monsters
Materials required
1. Paints.
2. Brush.
3. Pallet.
4. Sheets of white paper.
5. Things you can use decoratively
such as feathers, sticks, bindhi,
paper cuttings etc.
Instructions
1. Give the child different colour

paints, and help them mix colours of
their choice.
2. Guide them to make hand
impressions on a white paper, and
let it dry.
3. Tell them to decorate their art
coloured feathers, paper cuttings,
bindhi, sticks etc.
4. Voila! You have created friendly
monsters!
5. Ask them to create a story around
the monsters.
Discussion:
2. Make sure the children wash
their hands thoroughly once they
complete the activity.
Resource link:
www.funwithmama.com
11

8 Fun and focus
Game 1: Push and catch

Instructions:
1. Put a ball in a net or a cloth bag
and tie it to a hook.
2. Have your child push the ball away
with both hands and then catch it
again.
3. Your child needs to watch the ball
carefully to catch it with both hands
together, and to not let it bang
against the body.
4. Use a bat and have your child
practice hitting the ball with
the bat. Use a variety of bats to
increase the challenge-level for your
child.
Game 2: Stacking cups

Materials required:
Paper cups of different sizes.
Instructions:
1. Tell the child to build a pyramid
with the paper cups.
2. Each line/step should be done with
same size cups.
3. You can set a time-limit to make the
game more challenging.
4. They can knock it down and build it
back to have fun.
12

9 Collage making
Materials required
1. Coloured Paper (Rainbow colours).
2. Sketch pens.
3. Crayons.
4. Cotton.
5. Glue.
Instructions
1. Explain the colours of the rainbow to your child.

2. Ask your child to find the rainbow colours from the coloured papers.
3. Ask them to tear each coloured paper into small pieces.
4. Ask them to draw the curves of the rainbow as given in the picture.
(8 Curved lines)
5. Now ask them to stick the torn pieces of coloured papers in each curve as shown
in the picture, using glue.
6. Roll the cotton, stick it at the bottom ends of the rainbow to form two clouds.
Post-activity steps: Wash your hands properly with sanitiser!
Resource Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCwuGU7UbZg
13

10 Newspaper collage
Materials required
1. Newspapers.
2. Sketch pens.
3. Crayons.
4. Glue.
5. An A4-sized sheet of paper.
Instructions
1. Ask the child what animal they like.

2. Ask the child to trace the animal in
the sheet of paper.
3. Ask them to tear the news paper
into large pieces.
4. Ask them to stick the news papers
in the traced outline.
5. Ask them to clear the waste from
the collage they made.
6. Then help the child mark the
outlines of their favourite animal
Post-activity steps: Wash your hands
properly with sanitiser!
Resource Links:
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=IRD2kHaC7Ps
https://in.pinterest.com/
pin/520095456964297133/
pin/388505905338061832/
14

11 Salt painting
Materials required
1. Cardboard / Thick Paper.
2. Glue.
3. Salt.
4. Water colours.
Instructions
1. Draw a picture of your choice.

2. Then apply glue and sprinkle salt
over it.
3. Remove the extra salt.
4. Dab the water colours of your
choice on the salt outline and let
it dry.
5. Once it dries your art is ready!
6. Using this technique you can create
word art, draw pictures and doodles
of your choice and gift it to your
parents.
Post-activity steps: Wash your hands!
https://sites.google.com/site/
handwashing27/contact-us
Resource Links:
watch?v=Dgz2FKZo87s
15

12 Tandem activity
Materials required
1. Sketch pens
2. Notebook (un ruled)
Instructions
1. This activity requires two

members(a parent and a kid).
2. This activity is all about having
fun with the kids where both the
parents and the child will be doing
scribble art.
3. Both of them should grab a sketch
pen or a marker of their choice.
4. Both of them should start scribbling
from a particular point and do the
tandem drawing.
5. They can follow one another, go
fast or slow, or do different colours
while scribbling to have more fun.
Resource Links:
watch?v=iWGi6XZRno&list=PL1_
bD791g0MZR9HwKtt7cq-
vG2NSIeeUW&index=4
16

13 Scratch art
Materials required
1. A Sheet of Paper.
2. Oil pastels /crayons.
3. Tooth pick.
4. A scale.
Instructions
1. Take a plain white sheet of paper and coat it with different colours using pastels/
crayons of your choice.
2. Then coat the entire paper with black colour pastel so that the crayon/pastel
colouring is not seen.
3. Now start scratching the paper using toothpick to create a design which will be
colourful.
4. Likewise start creating as many design as possible And gift it to your friends and
parents.
Post-session steps: Wash your hands!
https://sites.google.com/site/handwashing27/contact-us
Resource Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmPA3eFGzqM
17

14 Paper dolls
Materials required
1. Pencil.
2. Crayons.
3. Scissors.
4. A sheet of paper.
5. Sketch pens.
Instructions
1. Fold the paper over 4 times

vertically.
2. Draw a figure of your choice.
3. Then cut out the figure and unfold
it.
4. You now have dolls in a chain!
5. Decorate the dolls using colors of
your choice resembling your family
members/friends.
6. Repeat the activity!
Resource Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_
e=260&v=qxa66E63xaU&feature=emb_
logo
18

15 Family dangler
Materials required
1. Chart paper.
2. Pencil.
3. Crayons.
4. Sketch pens.
5. Thread.
Instructions
1. Take a chart and cut it into as many

cards as possible.
2. Then in each card draw something
depicting each member of your
family/friends.
3. String all cards together and create
a family dangler.
4. Parents can help their kids write the
name of their family members and
friends.
5. Likewise, kids can create various
danglers of their favorites, daily
routine, etc.,
19

16 Trace the animals
Materials required
1. Sketch Pen.
2. Ink Pad.
3. A4 sheet.
Instructions
1. Place the A4 sheet in a writing pad.

2. Use the inkpad and create
thumbprints.
3. Before tracing the thumb print,
talk about the animals in the given
image.
4. Start the exercise with your thumb
print as an example and create an
animal through that.
5. Now, help your child pick their
favourite colour.
6. Ask the child to trace the
thumbprint in the sheet.
7. Help them recall the animals you
spoke about.
8. Help them trace the different
animals.
9. Talk about the animals to your
child.
Resource Links:
pin/32088216070377257/
https://in.pinterest.com/pin/AaSXc_1T-
n8U5AHc93lBkMT7Kzs9Q83HDQi5Z-
7r01KWMFdoSOj7j45OU
20

17 Bottle tree
Materials required
1. Waste plastic bottle caps.
2. Paints.
3. Colour pens.
4. Pencils and erasers.
5. An A4-sized sheet of paper.
Instructions
1. Ask the child to collect the waste

plastic bottles at home.
2. Help them mix the water colour.
3. Now ask them to write capital Y
one above the other on the sheet of
paper. You are helping them form a
tree.
4. Assist them until you get the tree
base through Y.
5. Now dip the bottle cap in the paint
and print it on the tree. Voila! You
have a colourful tree now.
Resource Links:
watch?v=C6zRTiRcWjw
21

18 Warm colours, Cool colours
Materials required
1. Sketch Pens.
2. Crayons.
3. Worksheets.
Instructions
1. Ask your child if they know what

are warm colours and cool colours.
2. Then teach them warm and cool
colours from the chart.
3. Help your child draw the picture
given in their worksheet.
4. Help them use cool colours for the
waves and warm colours for the
fish.
5. Ask them what colour they choose
when they are happy.
6. Ask them why they chose the
particular colour.
Resource Links:
pin/87398049002618612/
22

C Circle of safety
Individuals do not operate in a
vacuum. As every individual is trying
to cope with their own emotions, they
also encounter several other people
with varying emotional states that
affect their own and vice-versa. It is
important for us to create social spaces
where individuals feel safe enough to
express their emotions without fear of
backlash, embarrassment or rejection.
Creating a circle of safety involves

creating a situation of mutual trust
for the two or more individuals,
where they are allowed to express
their emotions and find acceptance and resolutions from open minds, in the context
of socially accepted practices. Additionally, the circle of safety should have room for
the questioning of the existing social practices that cause stress and other negative
emotions for individuals. They become a space where individuals learn to express freely
and learn to be reasonable and rational individuals.
1. Activities 19 and 20 in each activity set are built on the theme of ‘Circle of Safety’.
2. The activities are designed to help your child think about who and what makes them
feel safe.
3. In order to prompt your child to think about circles of safety, ask them what they
are thankful for and who is their favourite person to talk to about the things they
like and don’t like.
4. Remember to treat your child’s feelings and opinions with care and to not be
dismissive about them.
5. Help them complete the activity.
6. At the end of the activity, ask your child to assess their emotions about engaging in
the activity. Ask them if it made them feel happy.
7. Discuss with your child whom and how they would approach to talk about their
emotions.
8. Ask them how they would help people who ask for their help to talk about similar
feelings and thoughts.
23

19 Safety balloon
Materials required
1. A printout of the Safety Balloon Safety Balloon sheet
outline.
2. Colours.
3. Decorative items, newspapers,
magazines (optional).
4. Glue.
5. Scissors.
Instructions
1. Give your child a printout of the

balloon outline.
2. Ask them to write/draw/stick all the
things that make them happy and
feel safe in and around the air-filled
part of the balloon.
3. Then, ask them to write down all
the people that make them feel
safe/comfortable and happy on the
string of the balloon.
4. Once this is done, explain to your
ward about how this balloon is their
safety balloon, and if they are ever
in doubt or ever want to approach
someone, they can take a look at
this balloon and remind themselves
that they have people who will
help them, and things they can do
to make them feel happy and safe
once again.
5. The child can make it as decorative
as they wish.
6. Now their Safety Balloon is ready to
go, you can stick this or hang it on
your wall!
24

25

20 Mapping my emotions/feeling to a traffic signal
Materials required
1. A printout of the ‘Traffic Signal’ Traffic Signal sheet
outline.
2. Colours.
3. Sketch pens.
Instructions
1. Take a printout of the Traffic Signal

and ask your child to color them
according to the lights of a traffic
signal.
2. On the Red Signal, ask them to
draw the different things they are
afraid of, and the different things
that make them angry.
3. On the Yellow/Amber Signal, ask
them to draw the things they would
do to become calm or happy, and
the people they would go to for this.
4. On the Green Signal, ask them to
draw their two most favorite things
to do that would make them really
happy or calm no matter what.
5. Have a discussion with your child
on the words written on each of the
colours and why they wrote them
there.
26

27

Will you support NalandaWay Foundation?
NalandaWay’s award winning impactful projects reach the
most disadvantaged children in India. And it has been possible
through the support of generous individuals and corporations.
Every contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Support
NalandaWay today by visiting https://www.nalandaway.org/covid
Take a photo of the completed artwork and post them on

Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Make sure you tag
@nalandawayfoundation and #artforwellbeing.
Pray with Us
NalandaWay’s efforts have been towards bringing a little more
kindness and empathy in the world. Through our initiative
‘Art for Wellbeing – A Parent’s Guide’, we hope we can achieve
these goals by seeking to remove fear and anxiety and help
everyone become more empathetic, kind, creative and expressive
individuals.
We pray that we overcome disease, poverty and discrimination

through love and solidarity.
“This is my prayer to You,

O God-strike, strike at the root of poverty in my heart.
Give me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows.
Give me the strength to make my love fruitful in service.
Give me the strength never to disown the poor or

bend my knees before insolent might.
Give me the strength to raise my mind high above daily trifles.
And give me the strength to surrender my strength to
Your will with love.”
- Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali

'Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide' is a unique initiative brought to you
by NalandaWay Foundation to help children and adults alike find creative
expression through the arts and deal with anxiety and fear, positively.
You will find there's art for everyone with activity kits grouped age-wise,
right from pre-schoolers to high-schoolers and adults.
NalandaWay Foundation is an award-winning NGO, which uses visual and

performing Arts to help children from disadvantaged communities in India.
@nalandawayfoundation | www.nalandaway.org

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Ages

Art For Wellbeing

NalandaWay Foundation is an award-winning NGO,

“Art for Wellbeing - A Parent’s Guide” has age-

Identifying emotions is an important part of building a self-image for each child.

Instructions for activities

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

a. How did Akku feel when she

b. How did she feel when the boys

Post-activity prayer: Close your eyes

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

Coping strategies are designed to help children and

Instructions for activities

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. Take a printout of the ‘Karma’s

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

SAD CALM MAD

1. Karma lost her favourite toy.

2. Karma’s friend pushed her down while they

3. Karma’s best friend is coming home to

4. Karma’s school is closed and she cannot

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. Keep the materials ready.

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. Keep the materials ready.

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

Resource link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA8fxPzUw1E

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. Give the child different colour

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

Game 1: Push and catch

Game 2: Stacking cups

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. Explain the colours of the rainbow to your child.

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. Ask the child what animal they like.

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. Draw a picture of your choice.

Post-activity steps: Wash your hands!

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. This activity requires two

Post-activity steps: Wash your hands!

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. Fold the paper over 4 times

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. Take a chart and cut it into as many

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. Place the A4 sheet in a writing pad.

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. Ask the child to collect the waste

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. Ask your child if they know what

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

Creating a circle of safety involves

Instructions for activities

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. Give your child a printout of the

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

Art for Wellbeing - A Parent's Guide © Nalandaway Foundation

1. Take a printout of the Traffic Signal