By Jacqima Rios , Art Therapist, Cancer Relief Gibraltar.
Children’s Art Week is a celebration of creativity and self-expression—but for many children, especially those with a parent or close relative living with cancer, it can also shine a light on the quiet strength children show in the face of uncertainty.
When someone they love is seriously ill, children are often left managing big emotions with limited ways to express them. The routines they rely on may shift, attention may be divided, and feelings of fear, sadness, confusion, or even guilt can arise. In such moments, art offers more than a distraction—it becomes a meaningful outlet.
Through drawing, painting, or modelling, children can express what they may not yet be able to say. A shadowy figure might reflect fear; a protective symbol might show a wish to keep someone safe. Art gives form to the invisible and makes space for difficult emotions in a way that feels safe and manageable.
Experts like Carl Jung, Donald Winnicott, and Margaret Naumburg have shown how creative expression helps children explore their inner world, feel more in control, and reconnect with a sense of stability. Importantly, it allows adults—parents, carers, and therapists—to better understand and support what the child might be going through.
At the Cancer Relief Centre, we offer children a space where their feelings are respected, their creativity encouraged, and their emotional experiences gently supported. This Children’s Art Week, we’re reminded that creativity isn’t just enjoyable—it’s an essential tool for children navigating life when someone they love is facing cancer.
