Transitional Objects
Recently, in Child Art Development class with professor Tami Herzog-Rodriguez, first-year MPS Art Therapy students created unique stuffed creatures or toys that could be a “transitional object” for a child.
A “transitional object” defined by Winnicott in 1953, describes “those blankets, soft toys, and bits of cloth to which young children frequently develop intense, persistent attachments.” Attachment to a comfort object can be an in-between phase from being attached to a parent and being independent. Although, people often hang on to their objects into adulthood.
Each object will be the main character in its own children’s book that the students will write and illustrate. The books will serve to shed light on hard topics that children face, in a way they can understand. Like a transitional object, the animal or toy in the book can serve as a placeholder for the feeler of complicated emotions. It is important for children to see these things talked about openly, as heavy subjects are often grazed over by the adults in their life. This creates stigma around issues like death, disability, hospitalizations, and other stressors, instead of working to help children learn how to healthily cope with them.
The final children’s books featuring the transitional objects will be displayed on the 5th floor of the SVA West 21st Street Building at the end of the Fall 2021 semester.