Encouraging a love for the arts in children and young people aids their development in myriad ways.
Beyond developing kids’ creativity, the arts help them pick up and practice valuable life skills like critical thinking, fine motor skills, decision-making, and more.
Encouraging an interest in art can also teach kids positive attitudes such as confidence, cooperation, and cultural awareness. The best part is that all children who love art enjoy these benefits, whether or not they go on to become “serious” practitioners of a particular art form.
The best schools around the world recognize the immense positive impact a love for the arts can have on students of any age.
If you’re looking to send your child to a global international school Singapore parents trust, you’ll definitely want to choose an institution that maintains a robust arts program.
It’s also equally important to fortify your child’s interest in art on the home front by exposing them to works of art in different mediums and even giving them the chance to try a few of these themselves.
Still unconvinced of the practical value of art appreciation in today’s world?
Wondering whether your child’s love for the arts is worth investing precious time and resources in? Read on for 5 compelling arguments.
It Encourages Creativity and Imagination
The arts’ immense capacity to develop creativity in children is possibly their most obvious benefit, but it’s also one of the most valuable. Studying and practicing the arts gives kids the skills and tools to express themselves in imaginative and compelling ways. And the more creative your child is, the more likely they are to excel at tasks that require critical thinking, complex problem-solving and decision-making skills, and imagination.
Nurturing your child’s creativity while they’re still young is one of the best gifts you can give them, because a well-developed creative imagination will serve them well into adulthood.
Creative individuals are valued highly in just about every professional field imaginable. Most employers will even go so far as to say that creativity is the primary skill they look for in potential employees.
It Improves Academic Performance
A healthy love for the arts can inspire students to stay in school, pay more attention during their classes, and even apply themselves to their other schoolwork with more discipline and enthusiasm. Students involved in the arts often perform better in other academic areas and even strive for excellence in the world beyond the classroom. This is because such students have learned to draw from that passion and apply it in other areas of their lives.
Studies show that students engaged in the arts are significantly likely to attend school consistently, run for class office, participate in academic events like science fairs and essay contests, and earn recognition for academic excellence, among other academic achievements. Arts education and appreciation have also been linked to reduced dropout rates and higher rates of graduation among students with low-income backgrounds.
It Nurtures Healthy Self-Esteem
Whether your child takes an interest in the visual, literary, or performing arts, there’s no way around the fact that honing their skills will take long hours of study, repetition, and practice. Dedicating time and effort to practicing their craft teaches them discipline, while observing their own improvement over time will help develop their confidence. The experience of sharing their creative output with others, while at times uncomfortable or challenging for particularly introverted children, will also build your child’s self-esteem and make them more willing to step outside their comfort zone.
It Fortifies Social Skills
Similarly to team sports, group art activities can teach kids social skills like cooperation, teamwork, and creative collaboration. Children who sing or play instruments in musical ensembles, participate in theatre, or even just work on crafts alongside their peers have bountiful opportunities to observe how other people think and express themselves. Working on a shared creative endeavor together allows them both to learn from others and to figure out how to better relate to others.
Formulating constructive feedback for peers is another important social skill that involvement in the arts can teach your child. During activities like workshops and group discussions, children can practice how to offer both praise and criticism in productive and affirming ways. Such activities ultimately help them develop greater respect both for themselves and others.
It Fosters Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
The artistic products of a particular culture often serve as powerful windows into the values, ways of life, and experiences of people from that culture. Kids who get the chance to study art pieces from around the world and learn more about their history are better able to appreciate cultural diversity and respect perspectives that differ from their own. Exploring different cultures through artistic media rather than simply reading about them in textbooks also enables children to connect with these cultures and their people in a more human and personal way.
At the end of the day, the critical role the arts play in healthy and holistic child development can’t be understated. Nurturing a love of the arts in your child from an early age will grant them abundant mental, emotional, and even social benefits that they’ll be able to utilize for years to come.