I’m Anna Kegeles, an art therapist. I work with children and know what each material can do.
You tell me what your child is struggling with.
I find art materials that can help.
What matters most is the experience your child has with the material, and what they take from it into everyday life.
Watercolor
Ink
Finger paint
Tempera paint
Pastels
Charcoal
Crayons
Kinetic sand
Clay
Play dough
Markers
Colored pencils
Pencil
Collage
Fabric
Natural materials
What art can give a child
- 01ResilienceTrying again when something doesn’t work out.
- 02FlexibilityChanging plans and being okay with a result that isn’t perfect.
- 03Self-awarenessNoticing their own feelings, wants, and limits.
- 04Self-expressionExpressing what’s hard to put into words.
- 05Handling changeStaying steady when things don’t go as planned.
Why does it work?
Why does it work?
Your child draws, sculpts, or plays with the material, and gets the kind of experience they need right now. Nobody interprets the drawings.
It’s based on the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) model. Each material helps in its own way, and once you know how, you can use that at home.
I choose materials based on what you’re worried about, your child’s age, and what actually works for your family.
Three steps.
You tell me what’s going on with your child.
What worries you, where your child gets stuck, and what you’ve already tried.
We choose materials together.
We figure out what your child needs more of and pick materials that fit their age and your daily routine.
You leave with a written plan.
What to buy, how to offer it to your child, and how to support them. You can start the same day.
You might be surprised how much working with materials on its own can help your child.
From struggle to experience.
From struggle
to experience.
The struggle
A 7-year-old boy who needs everything to be under control. He erases a line if it doesn’t come out right, gets upset when things don’t go as planned, and is afraid of making mistakes.
What’s missing
Feeling that he can let go and nothing bad will happen. That something can turn out differently and still be good. That it’s okay not to know what comes next.
The material
We start with pencil, which is predictable: he controls every line and can erase any mistake. Then we add watercolor, which runs, blends, and does unexpected things.
His experience
The watercolor doesn’t go where he planned. At first it seems like everything is ruined, and then he sees that it turned out great in its own way.
It doesn’t happen overnight, but little by little it gets easier for him when things don’t go as planned.
He tries letting go to see what happens.
Anna
Kegeles
I’ve always been curious about how creativity helps people grow.
I came to art therapy through art. For many years I worked as an art director and taught art to children, then got my master’s in art therapy at NYU. I hold the ATR-P credential (Provisional Registered Art Therapist) from the Art Therapy Credentials Board.
I’ve worked with children, teens, and adults in schools and clinical settings, and for the past three years as an art therapist in New York City’s jails.
My approach draws on art therapy and the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC), a framework for how people respond to different art materials.
At The Art of Parenting, I turn this professional knowledge into simple, practical ideas that help parents bring creativity into their child’s everyday life.
Common questions.
Don’t see your question? Add it to your request, and I’ll answer before we meet.
It’s a 90-minute video call. You tell me what’s going on with your child, and together we pick materials, activities, and ways to draw that fit your family.
Children and teens of all ages. I choose materials and creative activities based on your child’s age, interests, and personality.
$270 for a 90-minute online session, including your written plan.
A written plan: what to buy, how to offer it to your child, and how to support them. You can come back to it anytime.
No, this is a consultation for parents. I don’t analyze your child’s drawings or look for hidden meanings, and this doesn’t replace working with a specialist. If your child needs professional help, that’s a separate step.
No. This isn’t a parenting course, so there’s no theory to learn and nothing to read. You can start the same day.
No. These are simple materials that don’t require a big investment. We can always find an option that works for you.
The plan is based on one session. If you need more, we can schedule a follow-up.
One session will help you support your child.
Consultation for parents
Online · 90 minutes
$270
- Materials chosen for your child.
- A written plan you can come back to.
- A follow-up session if needed.