Before Words: How Art Therapy Supports Babies and Parents

What if creativity could help strengthen the bond between babies and their caregivers — even before language develops? Art therapy focuses on shared sensory experiences and emotional connection, offering a playful yet powerful way to support early development and nurture secure attachment in infancy.

Art therapy is a flexible and adaptable approach that can be used across a wide range of settings, making it especially suitable for work with infants and their caregivers (Bergese, 2017). Rather than relying on words, art therapy focuses on shared experiences, sensory exploration, and emotional connection — all of which are central to early development.

Research shows that art-based interventions can positively impact both parents and infants. Parents who take part in these activities often report feeling better emotionally and more connected to their babies. They also describe greater ease in sharing attention and maintaining eye contact during interactions (Armstrong & Ross, 2022). Other studies have found that art therapy can strengthen parent–infant communication, increase warmth in the attachment relationship, and reduce intrusive caregiving behaviours (Armstrong & Ross, 2023). These shared creative moments can lead to feelings of mutual enjoyment and help deepen the emotional bond between infant and caregiver (Bergese, 2017).

One of the key strengths of art therapy in infancy is its ability to support expression before language develops. Infants experience the world primarily through their senses, and art materials provide a rich way for them to explore, communicate, and begin forming early symbolic meaning (Bergese, 2017). Through playful, sensory engagement, infants can express emotions and experiences that cannot yet be put into words. Studies have shown that these activities encourage mutual engagement and playful interaction between infants and their caregivers, supporting healthy relationship development (Armstrong & Ross, 2022).

Art therapy can also play a role in supporting infants and toddlers who have experienced early stress or trauma. Creative and play-based activities offer a safe and contained environment where emotions and experiences can be explored at a developmentally appropriate level (Bergese, 2017). This sense of safety is essential for emotional regulation and provides an important foundation for healing and growth.

Even simple art-making activities can have a meaningful impact. Shared creative experiences support early emotional, cognitive, and social development by encouraging connection and exploration (Armstrong & Ross, 2022). Art materials and mark-making allow infants to engage in sensory-rich experiences that strengthen sensorimotor development (Meyerowitz-Katz & Reddick, 2016). When caregivers and infants create together, they naturally practise skills such as joint attention, turn-taking, and emotional attunement. With therapeutic support and caregiver reflection, these shared moments can further enhance early relational health (Meyerowitz-Katz & Reddick, 2016).

Long before children can speak, they communicate through movement, sensation, and connection. Art therapy offers a meaningful way to meet infants where they are, supporting both emotional development and the caregiver–infant bond through shared, sensory-rich experiences.

References

Armstrong, V. G., & Ross, J. (2022). The Experiences of Parents and Infants Using a Home-Based Art Intervention Aimed at Improving Wellbeing and Connectedness in Their Relationship. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.732562

Armstrong, V. G., & Ross, J. (2023). Art at the Start: A controlled trial and close observation of parent-infant art therapy intervention. Infant Mental Health Journal, 44(5), 720–737. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.22078

Bergese, R. (2017). Art therapy in the early years: therapeutic interventions with infants, toddlers and their families. Infant Observation, 20:2-3, 198-202, https://doi.org/10.1080/13698036.2018.1473829

Meyerowitz-Katz, J., & Reddick, D. (Eds.). (2016). Art therapy in the early years: Therapeutic interventions with infants, toddlers and their families. Routledge.