Why Art is Important for Kids

As parents, we always want our children to have every chance to grow and succeed. With so many extracurricular activities to choose from, it can be tough to figure out which ones are truly beneficial. We want activities that are not only fun but also teach valuable skills for school and adulthood. When it comes to making this choice, art is an activity that never lets you down. The benefits of art for kids go beyond the classroom and have a long-lasting impact even when they grow up.

Here are five ways art benefits students of all ages:

1 Develops Fine Motor Skills

Getting involved in art helps children develop their fine motor skills, stimulates neural growth, and improves their ability to understand shapes and space. These enhancements have positive effects on various school subjects like reading, writing, maths, and science. Art lays the groundwork for success in other areas too.

When children hold a paintbrush, pencil, crayon, or pen and create lines, curves, dots, and dashes, they improve their hand control and coordination. Simple activities like mixing colours, cutting with scissors, or squeezing glue from a bottle require coordination and manual dexterity. Activities such as playing with play-dough or tearing paper for crafts also develop coordination between their hands and eyes, gradually improving their strength and agility. Even a child's early scribbles strengthen their hand muscles, making writing easier later on.

Art engages multiple senses, allowing children to see, hear, touch, and even smell. It's no secret that some children might even taste paste or glue! By involving the senses, art stimulates the firing of brain connections, creating more and more neural pathways. Expanding the size of the brain's network can enhance learning abilities. Research shows that having more connections makes it easier to learn new tasks. The best part is that children see art as fun, not just formal learning.

Creating art also involves understanding space and shapes. As children progress in their artistic journey, their ability to grasp and represent objects in relation to their surroundings improves. With each drawing or painting, they develop a better understanding of proportions and the size of things—this is visual-spatial processing in action!

2 Stimulates Creativity and Fosters Imagination

When children make art, they feel a sense of accomplishment as they turn their ideas into a finished creation. This journey involves logical thinking and problem-solving skills that are important in many areas of life.

Art encourages children to think creatively. Through their artistic activities, children learn to be imaginative, explore different colours and textures, and come up with fresh ideas to approach the same subject. When children engage in art during their primary and secondary school years, they develop stronger thinking skills. As they grow and enter the working world, they become innovators in their chosen fields.

3 Enhances Communication Skills

A picture is worth a thousand words: through art, children learn to communicate without relying only on words. They can express their emotions, feelings, and memories in ways that go beyond tears of joy or bursts of anger.

Art becomes a pathway for release and a source of relief for children dealing with trauma, loss, or difficult times. It enables them to express themselves and process their emotions. During the challenging teenage years, art becomes a means for young adults to express the mix of feelings and emotions they often keep hidden. It serves as a cathartic experience, offering them much-needed solace.

Simplifying complex emotions and ideas into a more manageable form benefits all children. By manipulating movement, size, and colour, children gain a sense of control. Furthermore, by enhancing their ability to communicate without relying solely on words, art helps improve their spoken and written communication skills.

4 Nurtures Self-Esteem

When children create art, they witness the outcomes of their own efforts, which boosts their self-esteem. Unlike subjects like maths, science, or grammar, where right and wrong answers exist, art isn't about being good or bad. There are no mistakes in art; instead, it offers opportunities for exploration and growth. Trying out a new art medium or style doesn't lead to success or failure, but rather provides valuable learning experiences.

Through art exploration, children develop genuine self-esteem. They become less preoccupied with their own lack of confidence and more focused on what they can achieve through their endeavours. This positive cycle reinforces their self-esteem as they embrace new challenges and broaden their horizons.

5 Improves Connection and Community

Art immediately creates a common ground for children who may feel socially uncomfortable or awkward around their peers. When children engage in art side-by-side, it creates an instant sense of community. They learn to support and appreciate the efforts of others, develop empathy, and, most importantly, have a good time in a group setting. Art allows confidence to replace feelings of insecurity and anxiety, bringing children of all races and backgrounds together for a common purpose.

Art plays a vital role in the development of children. It builds fine motor skills, enhances creative abilities, improves communication, boosts self-esteem, and fosters connection and community. As parents, we should encourage and support our children's artistic endeavours, as they provide a platform for growth, self-expression, and lifelong skills. So, let your child's creativity soar and watch them thrive in the world of art!