I'm the first to admit it - I do not enjoy letting my kids do art. When they were toddlers, it was fun to set it up and to take the cute photo of them getting their hands messy. But then the mess quickly escalated into a roomful of cleanup.
I did learn some good tips to minimize the mess, allowing them and their art to survive. Making placemats easy to reach for little ones and requiring them to set them out whenever playdough or water colors were brought out. Getting a paintbrush and a cup of water and letting toddlers paint on construction paper, on water painting books or even getting a mat that changes color when you paint on it for longer lasting fun. And using cookie sheets for moon sand or sensory bin types of activities.
Somewhere deep inside I knew this creative side was important to my kids' development. It just comes so naturally to children. Now that I've read Michelle's blogpost about the importance of art for children and teens, though, I feel like I finally get it.
Michelle lists many of the benefits of art to our children. The two that stood out to me are that it improves language development and decision making.
Language development because it allows little children to develop vocabulary around shapes, colors, etc. I always love it when my littles have drawn a very complex scene and then, as I ask them about each item in their picture, they describe it in great detail and each one has a story. These little moments are vital in the development of a child's mind.
In regards to decision making, she shares a report from American from the Arts that shares how the act of making choices and decisions in art carry over into real life. “If they are exploring and thinking and experimenting and trying new ideas, then creativity has a chance to blossom,” says MaryAnn Kohl, an arts educator and author of numerous books about children’s art education.
Don't ignore the importance of arts. Your kids will thank you. And if you're like me, the mess is worth it!
Read more from Michelle's article here.
Britany Sproul is a mother of 5, a homeschooler for 6 years, and a resident of Spanish Fork, Utah. She enjoys reading, sleeping, and quiet time. When she's not doing any of those things, she enjoys helping her kids develop their passions and helping other moms who are doing the same.