With the TES Special Needs show around the corner, where HUE Animation will have a stand, I wanted to write a bit about how animation can be really positive and a great teaching aid for children with special needs. Many special educational needs schools already use animation as a method of teaching. Stop motion animation is a extremely tactile and visual medium which is a perfect for getting across new concepts to children with learning difficulties.

With this in mind, I have decided to put together a small list outlining a few reasons how animation can specifically help children with special needs. (More information will be displayed on our website soon).

1. Promotes social and educational inclusion – Children working together on an animation project enables children of varying disabilities to engage confidently with each other, helping to build relationships and to create a positive learning environment in the classroom.

2. Children learn by playing – Animation is fun and interactive. It uses simple and bright technology which children with disabilities will find easy to get to grips with.

3. Increases self confidence – Children can achieve a real sense of empowerment and satisfaction from being able to carry out tasks all by themselves and then to be given the control to present their opinions to others.

4. Enhances organisation skills – The planning of storylines, scripts and music helps children to organise their ideas and focus their thoughts which in turn contributes to reducing stress levels.

5. Communication – Children can learn to express themselves through animation with can then be used to help them engage with the world outside the classroom. Animation is a great tool for children to communicate with other children, their parents and their teachers.

The picture above is taken from an article written by Emily Drabble for the Guardian about the ‘Bloggers of Banbury’ from Frank Wise School in Banbury, Oxfordshire which has been using animation and other types of media for a number of years to help children to communicate their thoughts and interact with others.

Here are some animations I found made by children with special needs:

Please don’t forget to come and visit us at our stand at the TES Special Needs Show on the 14th and 15th October at the Business Design Centre in London where you will be able to see us demonstrating the software and you will be able to see for yourselves the advantages of animation for children with special needs.