BENEFITS OF ARTS IN EDUCATING CHILDREN
The benefits of art at an early age has been well documented over the years. Exercising both sides of the brain is important for later education and critical thinking. Parents of children attending Studio9 have mentioned a significant increase in their children's interest of the arts at home. Once they start exploring the right side of their brain, it's like opening a vault.
Kids should be exposed to the arts as their cognitive skills mature so that their right brain will be as developed as the left, and both hemispheres work in tandem, thus achieving the full potential of the mind.
Here are some interesting facts taken from a couple of Universities.
Researchers from the Michigan State University have found a very strong correlation between childhood engagement in the creative arts and measurable success later in life. Children who were exposed to a wide variety of arts and crafts were more likely to create unique inventions that is worthy of patents, come up with ideas good enough to start a new company, or publish provocative papers on science and technology. The researchers suggest that children exposed to arts and crafts are able to think "out of the box" since a lot of working with hands involve figuring out how to solve problems creatively. After studying many scientists Co-authors Robert and Michele Root-Bernstein reached this conclusion: "The most eminent and innovative among them are significantly more likely to engage in arts and crafts avocations" than the average Joe.
Aside from the physiological effects, the New York Centre for Arts Education also lists other benefits of exposing children to art:
Your kid learns to think creatively, with an open mind
Your kid learns to observe and describe, analyze and interpret
Your kid learns to express feelings, with or without words.
Your kid practices problem-solving skills, critical-thinking skills, dance, music, theater and art-making skills, language and vocabulary of the arts
Your kid discovers that there is more than one right answer, multiple points of view
School can be fun – playing can be learning
Your kid learns to collaborate with other children and with adults
Arts introduce children to cultures from around the world
Your kid can blossom and excel in the arts. Even with physical, emotional or learning challenges, can experience success in the arts.
Arts build confidence. Because there is not just one right way to make art, every child can feel pride in his or her original artistic creations.
Arts build community. Schools with a variety of differences can celebrate the arts as one community.
Patricia