She considers this most recent work a grief roadmap for elementary, middle school, and high school students. Hodgson is an early childhood teacher with a master’s degree in art education, who has written hundreds of articles and dozens of books on the topics of grief and art. Harriet Hodgson, author of “ Grief Doodling: Bringing Back Your Smiles,” created the book after scrawling her way through her own grief after the loss of her husband and subsequent others. And more recent research asserts that the rhythmic and repetitive hand-eye coordination may increase alpha waves in the brain to facilitate a calming or relaxation response.ĭoodling can be a simple and effective tool to ease stress.

Other studies purport doodling improves memory function. The authors deduced that while most drawings were constructed out of boredom or distraction, there was a favorable link to the creative element of the brain. Psychologists assessed the cognitive behaviors associated with 9000 doodles submitted to the “Evening Standard” newspaper in 1937 for analysis. The concept of grief doodling may be especially beneficial, particularly for children. In fact, these random pictures and patterns may offer some impressive therapeutic value. But researchers are touting health benefits that doodling or drawing may have on the brain. It’s a seemingly mindless activity as our thoughts wander off from any task at hand. The margins of a notebook or a scrap piece paper provide a fine canvas for this erratic art. Most of us have probably doodled a random drawing or few. “Grief Doodling: Bringing Back Your Smiles” by Harriet Hodgson

Random doodling