Art Makes Our Children Grow!

I found this article to articulate well the importance of art in our children's lives. Get inspired and better understand why as parents we need to encourage and celebrate art!

Art - An opportunity to develop children's skills

As young children explore paint by putting it all over their hands, or create collages with torn paper, it's noticeable how involved they get in their activities. Children delight in exploring and creating with art materials. These art experiences help children develop many life skills.

Art is important for children especially during their early development. Research shows that art activities develop brain capacity in early childhood. Art engages children’s senses in open-ended play and supports the development of cognitive, social-emotional and multisensory skills. As children progress into elementary school and beyond, art continues to provide opportunities for brain development, mastery, self-esteem and creativity.

Encourage creativity

Creativity is expressing one’s own idea, trying new things, and experimenting with changing materials. The best way to develop creativity is to provide a variety of materials, and give children time to create on their own. Another way to support children’s creativity is to simply observe while they work, to provide additional supplies when needed, and to allow the child to decide when the work is complete.

Encourage children to try a new art experience. Asking open-ended questions, such as “What do you think you can do with the yarn?” can help children think about what process or creation might be possible.

Art activities for children also introduce them to new tools and materials, and possible ways to use them. Then the children can decide what to create and how they want to do it.

Art helps to develop cognitive skills

As children draw, paint, and make collages, they are learning about the world (color, shape and size of objects). When they use paints, glue, and markers, children are planning, experimenting, and problem solving. As children mix paint, they learn to understand cause and effect. Art gives children chances to make decisions, and to learn from the experience of making choices about their art work.

Art offers opportunities for self-expression

Children express how they feel and think about the world through their art, which gives them a way to express the feelings and ideas that they don’t have the words to talk about. This way of expressing themselves helps children to cope with the natural stresses of growing up. Art helps children to develop a sense of their own individuality, a sense of self-respect, and an appreciation for others’ work.

Art develops physical skills

As children use scissors to cut, fingers to finger paint, or weave yarn with fingers, they are improving control of the small muscles in their hands. Along with drawing with crayons or markers, this helps children develop fine motor control that they need later for writing.

Art is a process not a product

Where art is concerned, it is the process of creating – exploring, discovering, and experimenting – that has the greatest value for young children. The process is what’s most important, not the thing they actually create. Learning takes place even when children do not make a finished product to take home at the end of the day. Sometimes when children are asked to focus on an end result, or to finish something, it can limit the type of learning that can take place. Through self-expression and creativity, children’s skills will develop naturally.

If your child loves to create and make, check out all the great art classes locally like the Purple Monkey Art Studio in Halifax.