Feb. 26, Homeschool: Art in Action

Service Description

Best for ages: 6–10 Format: Guided projects with structured choice Group size: 6–8 students “Limited to 8 students per session to preserve the small-group experience.” Art in Action is a hands-on, art-based class designed to strengthen fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, visual planning, and focus through engaging creative projects. Using tools such as paint, clay, collage, and mixed media, students build confidence in how their hands and bodies work together, all while creating meaningful artwork. This class is ideal for homeschool students who benefit from: Strengthening fine motor and visual-motor skills Improving grip, control, and coordination Practicing planning, sequencing, and task completion Learning in a calm, structured, creative environment Welcoming social environment Smaller groups Notes: While informed by occupational therapy principles, this class is not therapy. It is an educational, enrichment-based art experience led by an experienced educator with a background in OT and creative development. About the instructor The Art Nest was inspired by founder Dacia Layton’s work as an occupational therapy educator and artist. Dacia has been a professor at Tidewater Community College for the past ten years, teaching in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. For the last eight years, she has taught a course called Therapeutic Media, which introduces OTA students to the use of arts and crafts as occupation-based activities to support performance skills, daily living, and overall quality of life. Through teaching this course and exploring the many ways art can be used therapeutically in occupational therapy practice, Dacia experienced the healing benefits of art personally. This journey led her to further explore the field of art therapy. She is currentlly taking her 4th semester of graduate school pursuing a degree in art therapy and counseling, with an expected graduation date of May 2027.