Creative Studio

Volume 1: Art Foundations

Therapist‑Designed Program

Designed and led by pediatric occupational and speech therapists with expertise in supporting children with diverse learning, communication, and sensory needs.

Orchid & Ivy enrichment programs are approved providers through Wisconsin CLTS (Children’s Long-Term Support) allowing eligible participants to use waiver funding for enrollment.

Program Highlights

  • Hands-on exploration of a variety of art materials and creative techniquesProcess-based art that encourages creativity, confidence, and self-expression

  • Sensory-rich art experiences using a variety of textures and mediums

  • Development of fine motor skills, hand strength, and tool use

  • Visual motor and pre-writing skill development through guided art activities

  • Opportunities to build communication, vocabulary, and storytelling skills

  • Collaborative projects that encourage social interaction and teamwork

  • Therapist-designed activities that support sensory regulation, problem-solving, and independence

Week 1: Meet the Art Tools

Participants explore a variety of art materials—including crayons, paint sticks, chalk, oil pastels, and dot markers—while learning how artists use different tools to create. Through collaborative projects and sensory exploration, participants develop confidence using new materials while strengthening grasp, hand skills, and communication.

Week 2 – Shapes Become Pictures

Participants discover how simple shapes become creative works of art. Through shape-based projects, tracing, sensory drawing activities, and scavenger hunts, participants strengthen pre-writing skills, visual perception, spatial awareness, and the ability to follow directions.

 Week 3 – Painting Adventures

Participants experiment with a variety of painting techniques, including finger painting, sponge painting, process art, and rock painting. Activities encourage creative expression while developing brush control, motor planning, sequencing, descriptive language, and storytelling.

Week 4 – Sensory Art Lab

The final week celebrates creativity through tactile, multi-sensory art experiences. Participants create calm jars, sensory bottles, texture art, and mixed media projects while exploring a variety of materials that support sensory regulation, fine motor precision, descriptive language, and social communication.

Targeted Skills

  • Fine motor development, hand strengthening, and tool use

  • Visual motor integration, motor planning, and pre-writing skills

  • Sensory exploration, regulation, and creative expression

  • Receptive and expressive language, core vocabulary, and descriptive communication

  • Following directions, sequencing, and problem-solving

  • Social communication, collaboration, and turn-taking

  • Executive functioning, independence, and self-confidence

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