Creative Kids: Learning through Art

Art takes an important role in early childhood development. The importance of creative art cannot be understated as it relates to many aspects of education and personal growth. Promoting creative kids and learning through art has many benefits which should be encouraged, including:

·        Improving Fine Motor Skills

·        Increased Language and Vocabulary

·        Abstract Skills

·        Innovation

·        Cultural Diversity

Dexterity and Coordination

Art is an appealing way to build fine motor skills. Drawing, painting, and even banging on a drum or dancing around the room helps children improve their balance and coordination. In a play-based learning environment, creative expression through art is a vital piece of the educational program and helps instill self-confidence.

Speech and Self-Expression

Even though a great deal of creativity is not verbal in nature, creative kids will increase their knowledge of language as an incidental benefit by talking about and explaining their art to peers and authority figures. As children explore new outlets for expression, they also adopt new terminology to convey their artistic intent. Educators can use the same tools used in children’s books to assist in building language skills, such as describing a child’s drawing in art-related or descriptive terms which refer to color, size, and perceived emotion, among other art-related terms.

Concepts and Imagination

Art in any form increases a child’s ability to understand things such as spatial concepts, patterns, and depth perception. Additionally, the act of being creative in itself helps kids to perform abstract thought, such as applying art as a function of self-expression. Where coloring a printed image helps with coordination, turning a blank page into a work of art teaches them that they have the ability to present something brand new to the experience of others.

Innovation and Invention

Creative kids find new ways to do things with existing tools. This can be as simple as discovering that blocks can be stacked in a way that forms a bridge, a tower, or even to resemble familiar objects such as people, trees, or animals. This innovation includes such ideas as learning to create mixed colors, develop their own designs, use new materials, and more.

Diversity and Culture

Art has a tendency to adapt cultural tradition and provides an excellent tool in promoting diversity and cultural acceptance. Through dance and music, for example, children learn that different cultures use both different styles and different methods of expression, such as the use of different stringed instruments, voice inflections, and body movements. Creative children can also be introduced to cultural acceptance and appreciation for how different cultures interact in positive ways and communicate through their unique traditions.

Encouraging creativity in a supportive manner gives children the incentive to be more productive and develop a higher level of self-esteem. Montessori education focuses on encouraging children to explore their creativity through play-based and hands-on learning experiences.  To learn more about Montessori education, contact the Montessori School of Flagstaff Westside Campus today.