Why Art is Important for Early Childhood Development

The school curricula usually lay a lot of stress on mastering subjects like maths and science. But the significance of art for a child’s growth cannot be undermined. Some of the benefits of art for child development may include the following:

1. Language Development

Merely talking about art may be a great way for most children to learn about words for shapes, colours and actions. Toddlers indulging in art activities may get a wonderful opportunity to pick up new words and expand their vocabulary. For example, parents may crumble a piece of paper and offer it to the toddler referring to it as a ‘ball’. Elementary school children may begin using descriptive phrases to define their creations, feelings or discuss various styles of artwork.

2.Inculcates Decision Making

Art education can also strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills of children. While forming an art piece, the experience of gathering relevant knowledge, assessing alternatives, taking thoughtful decisions and making choices may sharpen the mental faculties of a child. The entire course of creating art may invite a kid to think, explore, experiment, and try out new ideas, thus helping him hone his analytical and decision-making abilities.

​

3. Builds Inventiveness

Encouraging children to express themselves without any inhibitions through art may assist them to nurture a sense of initiative and innovation. When kids use their imagination, they may learn an important life skill of inventing things, and seeking out new means to achieve their set goals rather than only following directions. People who take initiative are the ones who can take society forward.

​

4. Improves Motor Skills

Simple actions like scribbling using a crayon or holding a paintbrush may contribute towards the furthering of children’s motor skills. Making art involves different movements, like when drawing a circle, square or cutting with scissors which may support the growth of both, fine and gross motor skills, and develop dexterity in kids.

​

5. Encourages Visual Learning

Visual learning is a crucial part of a kid’s total learning process. Children tend to learn more and faster from graphic sources than merely via numbers and texts. Today, a toddler may know how to handle a tablet or a smartphone even before he has learnt to read properly. Sculpting with clay, drawing pictures, threading beads through a string can all help promote visual-spatial skills in children. Art education can teach kids to identify, interpret and implement visual information to progress in life.

​

6. Stimulates Cultural Awareness

Training kids to realise and recognise the choices available to an artist in portraying a specific subject may help them understand and develop the ability to view and interpret reality in its various forms. They may learn to be aware of and accept other people’s reality and varying opinions which is important for peaceful co-existence.

7. Enhances Academic Performance

There is a positive relationship between art and various other achievements. Experts believe that young kids who regularly take part in creative happenings are twice more likely to do well in academics as well. Activities like giving presentations on different subjects, showcasing projects for science or maths fair, writing a poem or an essay may boost kid’s academic performance considerably.

8. Encourages Visual Learning

Visual learning is a crucial part of a kid’s total learning process. Children tend to learn more and faster from graphic sources than merely via numbers and texts. Today, a toddler may know how to handle a tablet or a smartphone even before he has learnt to read properly. Sculpting with clay, drawing pictures, threading beads through a string can all help promote visual-spatial skills in children. Art education can teach kids to identify, interpret and implement visual information to progress in life.

9. Inculcates Decision Making

Art education can also strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills of children. While forming an art piece, the experience of gathering relevant knowledge, assessing alternatives, taking thoughtful decisions and making choices may sharpen the mental faculties of a child. The entire course of creating art may invite a kid to think, explore, experiment, and try out new ideas, thus helping him hone his analytical and decision-making abilities.

10.Self-Expression and Creativity

Children express themselves through art on a fundamental level. Sometimes their artwork is the manifestation of that expression, but more often, the physical process of creating is the expression. Picture the toddler who has a new baby sister busily pummeling his fists into Play-Doh; a six-year-old joyfully painting flowers with huge arm movements blending, reds and yellows; a ten year-old drawing a portrait of her grandmother who recently passed away. Creating art allows children to work through feelings and emotions, and referring to a finished piece of artwork helps a child talk about feelings in a new and meaningful way. Art also develops a child’s creativity. Rather than being told what to do, answers and directions come from the child. Art is an experience that requires freethinking, experimentation, and analysis — all part of creativity.

It is important, however, to separate the notion of “talent” from “creativity” — a child does not have to create a masterpiece to have a meaningful artistic experience. Art is a process, not a product. It’s tempting to want our children’s art to turn out “cookie-cutter perfect” to prove that they are successful and on track. It’s reassuring to know that we can relax! Where art is concerned, it is the process of creating — exploring, discovering, and experimenting — that has the greatest value. Through self-expression and creativity, children’s skills will develop naturally, and their ability to create will soar.

11.Problem-Solving Skills: 

When children explore art ideas, they are testing possibilities and working through challenges, much like a scientist who experiments and finds solutions. Should I use a shorter piece of yarn to balance my mobile? This tape isn’t holding — what should I try instead? How did I make brown — I thought I made orange? Art allows children to make their own assessments, while also teaching them that a problem may have more than one answer. Instead of following specific rules or directions, the child’s brain becomes engaged in the discovery of “how” and “why.” Even when experimenting or learning how to handle art materials effectively, children are solving challenges and coming up with new ways to handle unexpected outcomes

12.Social & Emotional Skills:

Art helps children come to terms with themselves and the control they have over their efforts. Through art, they also practice sharing and taking turns, as well as appreciating one another’s efforts. Art fosters positive mental health by allowing a child to show individual uniqueness as well as success and accomplishment, all part of a positive self-concept.

once you acknowledge that art is a language, the importance of respecting a child's artwork becomes obvious. Yet too often adults praise art before really looking at it, offering routine comments like "What a pretty picture!" Comments like these can actually be damaging to a child's self-esteem, causing him to feel misunderstood. Pictures sometimes communicate sad or angry feelings that are not "pretty" at all. It's far better to view a child's art slowly and with quiet interest before making any comments. Over time, with authentic and respectful support from adults, children will use art as a way to draw out real feelings those never expressed verbally.   painting is not a mere colouring picture in books and not copying from photos or colouring the space in contour lines. because art is not restrictive. to be a creative work, it has to represent individuality

​distinguishing "fine art and applied art" – another way of saying "arts and crafts." both fine and applied arts can demonstrate individuality. If a child's painting or Treasure Box looks like everyone else's, then there’s no creativity or imagination involved. What's the quickest way to tell if it's art? If a child can’t recognize which project is his at the end of the day, it's not art! children love art because it's fun and provides them with authentic self-expression: the freedom of choice, thought and feeling. How important is an art in a child’s human development? What does a picture tell us about the child who created it? children’s art is many things to many people. to a parent, art is an expression of their children's imagination. to an educator, it's a teaching tool to impress the students. to a psychologist, art is a way to understand a child's mind easily. to grandparents, it's a way to feel connected to their childhood . to a librarian, it's a way to enhance bookish knowledge. but to a child, art is a way to have fun, make decisions, express ideas emotions 'n' aspirations and impress others with a universal language.

​