Developing the Creative Abilities of Children with Learning Differences in Rural, Low-Resource Settings in Africa: A...

Creative ability is an important outcome of developmental support programs, as it helps to lay the foundation for better long-term participation and well-being. Children with learning differences risk underdeveloping this potential, especially those in rural, low-resource African settings.

This study aimed to determine the potential outcomes of Create2Grow, a new community-based occupational therapy visual arts group intervention for children aged 8 to 12 years with mild to moderate neurodevelopmental disorders, using a case series research design with eight children recruited via convenience sampling.

The intervention had a large clinical effect on participants' caregiver-rated Canadian Occupational Performance Measure scores (d = 1.5) and clinician-rated Creative Participation Assessment scores (d = 1.76) from pre- to post-intervention. Create2Grow was also rated as highly in demand, acceptable, and practical for the target group. Low study attrition rates showed that the intervention could be effectively implemented at a local school within the community.

Create2Grow is a promising solution to promoting the creative ability of children with learning differences in rural, low-resource settings in Africa.