FOSTERING PARENT-

CHILD RELATIONSHIP

THROUGH AESTHETIC

EDUCATION Pandora Lee

CULTURAL RESTRAINTS

Patriarchy and hierarchy are still the dominating norm

in the society (Chen, 2009; Hwang, 2009; Yang & Lu, 2004)

depresses children to express their opinions (Chen & Yi,

2006; Cheung and Chan 2002)

Chinese socialization contains training for obedience,

proper behavior, the importance and the acceptance of

social obligations

whereas independence, assertiveness and creativity

are not emphasized (Ho, 1986)

CHINESE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP

Chinese custom endorses indirect communication,

which is perceived as a way to “save face” and avoid

shame and conflicts (Chen, 2009; Sullivan, 2005)

Emotion expressions can sometimes be considered as a

sign of weakness in Chinese society (Lin, 2001)

USING DIFFERENT FORMS OF ARTS IN

WORKING WITH PARENT-CHILD

RELATIONSHIP

Arts, such as music, art or dance/movement, can:

help to create a safe and supportive environment

serve as a powerful medium to bring the parent and

child together

facilitate spontaneous and genuine interactions

allow the parents to “communicate” with their children

in a new way

EXPRESSIVE ARTS FOR PARENT-CHILD

RELATIONSHIP

Expressive arts to work with mother-child relationship in

Chinese culture showed positive impacts

New perspectives examining their personal strengths and their

family situations (Lai, 2011)

Visual art helps to visualize and verbalize the family

situation

Drama forms a channel to express and perceive their family

issues in a safe, less-direct and less-threatening manner

Music activities such as singing games and improvisation

encourage new interaction models between parents and

children (Abad & Williams, 2007)

HOW EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY BENEFITS

PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP

Creating arts together promotes different ways and strategies

for parent-child interactions (Lai, 2011)

Use of music - improved attachment, parenting skills and their

children’s social skills (Abad & Williams, 2007; Salkeld, 2008)

Balance the hierarchy in a parent-child relationship; parents can

adopt new skills and engage with their children in a more active role

(Pasiali, 2012; Riley & Malchiodi, 2003; Wadeson, 1980)

Dynamic change during the process is noted, particularly when

parents were not familiar with the arts activities and art

materials (Chen, 2009; Hwang, 2009; Sullivan, 2005)

the children get more freedom to express and in charge of the activity in

replacement of the parental commanding manner

REFERENCE

Abad, V., & Williams, K. E. (2007). Early intervention music therapy: Reporting on a 3-year

project to address needs with at-risk families. Music Therapy Perspectives, 25(1), 52-58.

Chen, P. H. (2009). A counseling model for self-relation coordination for Chinese clients with

interpersonal conflicts. The Counseling Psychologist, 37(7), 987-1009.

Chen, Y. H., & Yi, C. C. (2006). Wife's Decision-Making Power in a Chinese Context. Japanese

Journal of Family Sociology, 17(2), 110-123.

Cheung, G., & Chan, C. (2002). The Satir model and cultural sensitivity: A Hong Kong

reflection. Contemporary Family Therapy, 24, 199-215.

Ho, D. Y. (1986). Chinese patterns of socialization: A critical review.

Hwang, K. K. (2009). The development of indigenous counseling in contemporary Confucian

communities. The Counseling Psychologist, 37(7), 930-943.

Lin, Y. N. (2002). The application of cognitive-behavioral therapy to counseling Chinese.

American Journal of Psychotherapy, 56(1), 46.

REFERENCE

Pasiali, V. (2012). Supporting parent-child interactions: Music therapy as an intervention for

promoting mutually responsive orientation. Journal of music therapy, 49(3), 303-334.

Riley, S., & Malchiodi, C. A. (2003). Family art therapy. Handbook of art therapy, 362-374.

Salkeld, C. (2008). Music therapy after adoption. Music therapy with children and their families,

141-158.

Sullivan, P. L. (2005). Culture, divorce, and family mediation in Hong Kong. Family Court

Review, 43(1), 109-123.

Wadeson, H. (1980). Art psychotherapy. John Wiley& Sons

Yi, C. C., Chang, C. F., & Chang, Y. H. (2004). The intergenerational transmission of family

values: A comparison between teenagers and parents in Taiwan. Journal of Comparative Family

Studies, 523-545.