Together in Art: A Family Art Therapy Workshop

Fourteen families gathered for "Together in Art", our family art therapy workshop in partnership with THK Moral Charities and The Red Pencil (Singapore) on 30 Aug 2025. Two hours, a circle of parents and children — some barely walking, some already teenagers — and a table full of colours waiting to be discovered.

Art supplies set up for families to creatively explore and express through stickers, colored paper, scissors, and vibrant crayons.

I began with a small reminder: this is not an art class. It is not about drawing neatly or colouring inside the lines. Art therapy is about something softer, something deeper. It is an evidence-based practice that gives families space to express feelings safely, to connect with each other without words, to let colours hold feelings too big for speech.

The vibrant drawings reflect creativity and togetherness in this enjoyable family activity.

The first activity, Hand Dance, was as simple as it was delightful. One hand tracing another, laughter when the lines wobbled, curiosity when colours overlapped. A playful way to loosen the shoulders, to quiet the thought of “Am I doing this right?” — because here, rightness is not the goal. Connection is.

A vibrant display of hand dance drawings created by families, showcasing colorful and creative designs on a wall.

Then came the Family Tree House. A trunk for strength, a space for each self-portrait or symbol, and decorations woven together — swings, gardens, pets, little surprises tucked in corners. Each artwork became a home where every family member found their place. Parents and children leaned close, negotiating colours, laughing at small accidents that turned into new ideas. Harmony wasn’t forced; it appeared naturally, when each voice was given space to exist.

One moment that touched me deeply: two families, sitting side by side, decided to draw not just two tree houses, but a bridge connecting them. What a beautiful symbol of closeness — proof that art does not only build bonds within our own families, but also among families. They say it takes a village to raise a child. And in that moment, there it was on paper: a village, alive and connected.

At the end, we lined up the tree houses side by side. Suddenly, they were no longer just individual drawings. They had become a village. A reminder that families do not grow in isolation; we thrive because there are others standing nearby, building alongside us.

What stayed with me most was not the finished artworks, but the way families gave each other permission — permission to play, to let go of control, to be silly, to be tender. Perhaps that is what art does best: it opens a doorway to be human together.

I left the workshop humbled, joyful, and reflective. Two hours of crayons, pastels, and laughter had turned into something larger — a gentle echo of what we all long for: belonging, harmony, and a safe place to call home.

"We don't heal in isolationm, but in community." – S. Kelley Harrell

*All photos of the event and artworks are published with consent. For privacy, participants’ faces and names on artwork are not shown.