Determining the Motor Skills Development of Mentally Retarded Children through the Contribution of Visual Arts

Abstract

Visual arts education is a process that helps the reflection of inner worlds, socialization via group works and healthier motor skills development of normally developing or handicapped children like the mentally retarded. This study aims to determine the influence of visual art studies on the motor skills development of primary school first grade level trainable mentally retarded children and the difficulties faced related to this process. The target population of this study consists of special education teachers working for private special education institutions and the sample of this study consists of eighty-five special education teachers working for fifteen special education institutions within the province of Bursa. In this screening survey model study, questionnaires have been used as a data collection technique. The results have been interpreted by analyzing in table forms. According to the findings obtained in the research, most of the participating teachers think that visual art education plays an important role in the development of mentally retarded children and visual arts classes are beneficial to developing motor skills and improves hand-eye coordination. However, it has been determined that some applications, which were included in the visual arts education curriculum, have not been practised. In accordance with the findings obtained in the research, it has been suggested that the applications containing fine motor skills development movements should take place more in art education programs, and that special education institutions should have an art educator and art studios in order to improve motor skills level of mentally handicapped children.