My Growing Tree

Children naturally make sense of themselves and the world through imagination, creativity, symbolism and play long before they can fully express their inner experiences with words.

My Growing Tree was thoughtfully adapted as a creative and developmentally appropriate expressive painting experience that supports children to explore identity, imagination, connection and self-expression through art-making.

As children move through the tree - from roots and grounding below, upward into branches, leaves, flowers and possibility - the artwork gradually becomes a symbolic reflection of their inner world, favourite things, strengths, dreams, supports and relationships.

The process itself is intentionally calming, layered and sequential.

Beginning from the ground up helps create a sense of structure, organisation, coherence and emotional safety while encouraging creativity, imagination and freedom of expression.

The tactile and sensory nature of expressive painting can also support:

grounding and nervous system regulation confidence and self-expression creativity and flexible thinking emotional wellbeing and connection imagination, curiosity and play Because the experience is symbolic and externalised onto the canvas, children are able to explore and communicate through imagery, colour and creativity. There is no right or wrong way to create.

The focus remains on exploration, imagination, emotional safety and the joy of making something meaningful and uniquely their own.

Date and time: Sat, Jul 25, 10.30am-11.45am

Location: One Arts, Surfers Paradise

Facilitators: Anne Baritchi: www.annebaritchi.com.au; Rupneet Kaur: https://www.instagram.com/artbyrupneetkaur