The Arts: Extracurricular Activities for the Creative Child

Creativity

While there is a plethora of great fine art activities, I am going to lump it all into two categories: music and art. Let's first talk about the benefits that these two areas have in common. Both music and art use the creative brain. Musicians use creativity to represent thoughts or feelings. Low, somber pieces probably represent some kind of sad or disappointing moments and bubbly, bouncy pieces probably represent excitement or joy. Art is similar, but instead of audible creativity, its all visual. Bright, swift paint strokes probably represent something happy or new, while dull colors with long, smooth strokes might represent peace or a sense of calm. We don't need to limit creativity to instruments and painting though. There are loads of way artists can show their creativity. Think about beat boxers, composers, singers, photographers, potters, wood carvers, and people who sew, crochet, or knit. Creativity is a huge part of the process for all of these creators.

Fine Motor Skills

The other piece that makes both music and art similar is the fact that both of these areas grow fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are those little movements that we make with our hands and fingers. I know very few pianists who learned to play piano with their knees and elbows. Fine motor skills are what enable us to make small movements with the smallest parts of our bodies. Kids need to develop these so that they can learn to write with pens or pencils. These skills are also needed to use electronics such as keyboards and tablets. Doctors and scientists needs steady hands to do much of the work that they do. Fine arts are a great way to develop fine motor skills that will be used for years to come.

What is it about art that is so important?

Language Development

Believe it or not, language development is one of the most important benefits of incorporating art activities into your child's life. At the beginning of this post, I mentioned about your child wanting to describe his or her drawing or creation to you. That is exactly where the power lies. As children grow, they learn how to describe things based on what they hear in their surroundings. Allowing them to create and then explain their creations to you is a great way to encourage language development.

You will see a progression of word difficulty as children age. Check out the picture to the right. As a toddler or preschooler, your child may call this drawing of a flower a "pretty." It may later become a "flower." Then, at last, they identify it as a "rose." All three of those words could be used to describe this exact same drawing. That is an example of the language development piece of art.

Decision Making

Another reason why art is important for kids is because it teaches decision making. When children are being creative, they have to decide what to do next. It forces them to make a decision about what they are going to draw. They have to choose media, colors, and process to come to a final work of art. 

Cultural Awareness

A beautiful benefit of involving your children in art is cultural awareness. Many different kinds of art derived from various parts of the world and each can teach us something about another culture.  Keep in mind that each kind of art comes with its own story. Don't miss out on teaching your children about the beauty of each culture.

Higher IQ

 Exposing children to music has been linked to studies showing an increase in children's IQ. If your child has an interest in music or a desire to take music lessons, don't miss the opportunity! There are benefits that will pay off in many other areas such as how the brain processes information. After all, what parent doesn't want a super bright and intelligent child?