The Effectiveness of Art Therapy in Promotion of Creativity in Children with Learning Disabilities

Objectives: In present study, we studied the effect of teaching three painting methods (free method, subject selection method and complementary method) on creativity of children with learning disabilities. First, among all disabled students, who refer to Bizhani center for learning disabilities in Arak city, 60 subjects were randomly selected as statistical sample. Thus, the 45 children, divided into three groups of 15 as experimental group and 15 children were randomly selected as control group. Methods: In this study, first all children were tested by a pre-test and Torrance Creativity Test , then experimental groups were tested by three painting methods (free methods, subject selection method and complementary method) for 30 sessions of 30 minutes over a period of 45 days This Training was controlled by welleducated teachers and a research cooperator and no change developed during research procedure and at the end of sessions all group were examined by posttest. Results: Results of analysis of variance and Schaffer's test shows teaching of painting with free method, increase initiative, flexibility, and expandability (p<0/05), but it has no effect on the fluidity. However, teaching of painting with complementary method cannot increase creativity. Discussion: Finally, findings of recent study confirm that art therapy (painting with subject selection and free methods) can increase creativity of children with learning disability.