The Importance of the Arts in a Child’s Development

The importance of the arts can not be denied. They help children develop communication and language skills, increase creativity, and improve self-esteem. The arts also expose children to exciting topics like history, geography, math, science, and technology that they might not come into contact with otherwise.

The importance of the arts in a child’s development

1. The arts grant children the ability to communicate feelings, ideas, and thoughts that are difficult, if not impossible, to verbalize. Michael Chekhov said, “Art is the most complete of human activities.”
2. Arts assist in the development of creativity and imagination. In “Creative Young Children’s Art Growth in Their Social and Cognitive Development,” Karla L. Berg found that children who enjoyed art consistently showed increased creativity based on their interests and preferences of art media and styles.
   
3. Arts help build self-esteem in children. A study by Santi Mancini and Johnna S. de La Vega found that parents of “sensitive children” positively correlated art activities and their child’s self-esteem.
4. Arts are fun for the entire family, with some arts learning or teaching skills passed down from generation to generation, such as learning to play chess or musical instruments. The benefits of performing arts such as singing and dancing are often seen by parents who are not involved in those activities but want to encourage their child’s interest in them.
5. Arts can be very beneficial in helping children learn geographic and historical information. The arts can be used to teach geography through paintings, sculpture, drawing, and other art forms.
6. Arts help children connect with their environment, connecting more pieces of information than they would otherwise have done on their own with no arts exposure. In “Children’s Art Across the Ages” by Suzanne Cusick, she found that children who painted as young as eight months showed more interest in learning through art than those who did not paint then.
7. Arts can be a valuable tool in teaching math and science. Children can learn about patterns, fractions, ratios, and other topics by participating in art activities like weaving, sculpting, or painting.
8. The arts teach children about the technology they may not know elsewhere. Computer technology to create animation and tools used in other art forms like pottery wheels and looms are sources of new technologies that children could get exposure to because they want to explore art.
9. Arts help children build physically and emotionally. Gymnastics and dance are two examples of how the arts build strength and flexibility in children. Activities like these can be critical in helping a child develop motor skills and an interest in physical fitness.
10. Arts encourage creativity in children. In “Creative Young Children’s Art Growth in Their Social and Cognitive Development,” Karla L. Berg found that children who enjoyed art consistently showed increased creativity based on their interests and preferences of art media and styles.
11. Arts make a child more tolerant of other cultures, which can be important in many aspects of life. Art activities have been found to help increase a child’s respect for other cultures, including the arts, music, sports, and other disciplines that most children have limited experience with outside school or the classroom.

The arts teach children valuable learning skills that can be used in life. They can also provide an outlet for children to express their creativity and give them helpful information they may not know otherwise. Encouraging the arts in all areas of a child’s life is essential. ArtsFairfax has a list of summer arts camps for the month of August. Check it out and let your child experience something new this summer!