A significant benefit of engaging children in art at an early age is developing creativity. Here Anuradha Khare of Talentila Art Foundation teaching children how to make art objects from waste material (Inset : The bottles after being painted pic courtesy – Talentila Foundation)Art is an excellent medium for self-expression. It is also widely used by individuals for expression who, owing to circumstances or a physical or mental condition, are unable to communicate through other commonly-used modes such as writing or talking.
The one segment of society that is hugely benefitted by art is children. We have all heard time and again and told by our teachers and parents that art and related creative activities are very important for a child’s holistic and healthy development. And, rightly so, as it helps a child express himself and utilise several abilities of the brain.
Children respond very well to creative works and creative mediums of self-expression. They say, there is an artist in every human and children are the best example of that. Every child is amazingly creative and courageous to give a physical, tangible form to his/her imagination.
Art and development
In fact, the ability of a child to be imaginative and to create something inspired from or as a result of his experiences, feelings, etc. is a reflection of the mental and emotional health of the child and, at the same time, a great way to nurture it. So, art plays a very important role in children’s developmental exercises.
What a child draws or paints, is a strong indicator of what the child feels and how he or she perceives things. The Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) researchers Lan Yu and Yukari Nagai developed and tested a digital analysis process that is used to digitise and analyse children’s paintings.
The process enables thorough analysis of the artwork based on several variables. So, basically, the process quantifies and calculates several factors in a painting such as patterns, scale of objects, relationship between objects, etc. that leads to an analysis that humans can understand.
There are certain cognitive abilities that are associated with art such as detailing, realism, etc. Children take time to develop these abilities, so the younger a painter, the lesser developed cognitive abilities he or she will have and demonstrate.
This means, a young child’s painting will lack details of objects and scenes. This also means that proper guidance to children about painting specific objects will encourage them to observe their surroundings more and enhance awareness of the same, thus aiding the development process.
Children, born ingenious
Creatives play a very important role in overall development of children and are very engaging for those with mental disabilities. The brain is primarily divided into two parts of which the left hemisphere is used for logical and analytical thinking and the right one for creativity, intuitions, etc.
In most educational systems, creative learning and creativity in general is neglected and academics are given preference over art, so to speak. It’s important to mention here that for the overall development of a child into a balanced, healthy individual, both parts of the brain have to work together and, in tandem.
Many education institutes are now understanding the importance of and emphasising on activities that involve creativity and self-expression. Art is more than just a fun activity and can be extremely beneficial for children.
In 2018, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools in Kerala and Lakshadweep announced they will ‘promote art, culture and creativity among students and help them showcase their talent’. The focus of the exercise was to develop a robust education system that allows academic improvement and holistic development of children.
Co-curricular activities supplement and complement the curricular or main syllabi activities and these are very important to develop the students’ personality as well as to strengthen classroom learning.
The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), which has been set up under the aegis of Ministry of Culture, Government of India initiated networking with several education institutes to fulfil its mandate of promoting ‘cognitive, social and emotional learning’ and, at the same time, inculcate among children an appreciation for the diversity and richness of arts in India.
Broadly speaking, art and similar creative pursuits help children by giving them a tool or a medium, beyond words, to express their thoughts. Also, it is a great way to build a skill set at a young age. Art also aids bonding and nurtures creativity and innovation.
Benefits of art for children
One of the most significant and undeniable benefits of engaging children in art at an early age is developing ‘creativity’. To succeed in any profession or vocation, creativity is an essential attribute to have and art boosts that. Children, who engage in art or similar activities, learn faster and perform better in other fields and disciplines. They are also better at creative problem-solving and are more likely to imbibe lateral thinking abilities.
Experimenting and creative problem-solving go hand in hand. Art delivers the ability to imagine and makes a person a flexible thinker. It offers plenty of opportunities to keep making decisions but still be flexible, prepared for uncertainties and constantly analyse results.
Developing art as a skill is beneficial because it helps a child develop his fine motor skills. Creating art work requires adeptness and dexterity. Engaging in painting, drawing, sculpting, etc. help a child develop his or her coordination and visual-spatial skills.
As young children begin to scribble or draw, they develop higher control of their hand movements on paper. So, art enhances and expedites learning to write alphabets at a young age.
Any creative activity like art stimulates synapses or neural connections in the brain which is good for mental health. Engaging in art helps enhance one’s cognitive skills. It also helps an individual deploy multiple mental skills that are superior and essential for success. These include remembering details, focussing, multi-tasking, planning and organising
A very important reason why children must be exposed to art at an early age is it boosts self-esteem. The simple process of creating something is a fulfilling one. Activities related to art like any group activity further healthy socialisation. Children learn to share with and interact with others.
A mode of communication
Art not only helps children to visualise better, it also aids in self-expression, something that is essential for the healthy development of a human being. Often, inadequate or underdeveloped communication abilities prevent children from expressing themselves, their ideas and emotions. If a child is struggling with speech, language, comprehension, etc. art offers a creative and powerful outlet to them.
A child’s mind is like sponge, absorbing anything that comes its way. It’s amazing how much information a child can absorb and process. Art is a great way for children to develop abilities to process new information, in a safe manner and a protective environment.
Art also allows one to explore feelings and deal with them in a proper manner. Sometimes, what cannot be expressed in words is expressed beautifully through art. Art also gives children hundreds of new ways to express themselves. There are no set boundaries and no structure.
Numerous studies undertaken to understand benefits of art for children reveal that art not just boosts creativity in children, it also helps them in other aspects of academics. Engaging in art improves children’s mathematical abilities, reading, communication, etc. and is essential for holistic development.