Get Artsy With It Twelve Benefits of Exposing Your Children to Fine Arts
By Jan Pierce , M . Ed
As our school classrooms become more and more focused on reading and writing excellence , our children may be missing out on some of the most important skills they can learn — appreciation of and active participation in the arts !
Fine arts can include much more than drawing and painting . They include music and drama . They encompass many kinds of artistic expression such as working with clay , creating mosaics , three-dimensional paper creations , puppetry and making mobiles . They include photography , cooking , flower arrangement — any activity in which self-expression bursts forth .
Children naturally love to engage in art projects . The creative process is motivating in itself — an invitation to create something unique . There isn ’ t just one answer in artistic endeavors ; rather , there are infinite possibilities . And that ’ s good for children .
Child development specialists tell us that the left hemisphere of the brain is used in logical thinking and analytical processes — basically our math , reading and science lessons . The right hemisphere of the brain is used in our emotional , intuitive and creative activities — artistic types of activities . Ideally , our children need to develop both sides of the brain , and the sides must work together for optimal learning success .
It ’ s not only beneficial to expose our children to the fine arts ; it ’ s fun . And you might be surprised at the learning that takes place while a child paints or molds playdough or plays the part of Peter Rabbit in a simple play .
Here are 12 benefits of engaging in artistic projects :
1 . Children will improve their fine motor skills . Handling paintbrushes , drawing with a pencil , cutting safely with scissors , all these require precision . Correct placement of fingers on piano keys , learning to play a scale and strumming a guitar all build motor skills .
2 . Language skills are enhanced . Children learn a whole new vocabulary when they enter the world of the arts . They learn names of famous painters , color and shape words ; they learn to describe the items in their drawing and identify various artistic processes such as shading , adding focal points and concepts such as perspective .
3 . Visual-spatial skills are developed . Children learn how to place items on a piece of paper , how to connect pieces of a three-dimensional work , and how to move their clay into the shape they desire .
4 . In art appreciation , children will learn about the vast diversity found in artistic expression around the world . They ’ ll build cultural awareness as they compare African masks with those created by Alaskan natives .
5 . Decision-making will develop . In creating any piece of art , there is a series of decisions made . What color , what shape , how big or small ? Should I use watercolor or tempera ? Art lends itself to experimentation that can spill over into creativity in other areas of life .
6 . Children who sing , act or create art learn to express their feelings either with or without words . They learn to express themselves in many different ways .
7 . Children who might tend to be shy or fearful develop confidence when taking part in the arts . Singing with a group , reciting a poem with classmates , taking a chance on the bright purple paint all work together to build confidence in the decisions they make .
8 . Because there is not just one way to create , children in the arts learn to embrace multiple points of view . If 10 children draw the same apple , there will be 10 different apples . And that ’ s okay .
MARCH 2022 | 15