The benefits of ‘The Arts’ for children

This is a collaborative post.

‘The arts’ also known as creative arts is a compilation of fine art, design studies, music, drama, dance and cinematography. They offer some of the most enjoyable ways to express creativity for children.

Along with providing opportunities for future careers, there are also many learning benefits that come with it. These are physical, sensory, cognitive, social and emotional.

The benefits of the arts go beyond creativity and imagination which is why it is worth introducing to children. Want to find out more?

Here is some advice from an independent school in Hampstead on the benefits of the arts for children.

Physical

As children learn to grasp tools used for art or pick up the skills to mould, they start to develop and strengthen their fine motor skills. Controlled finger movements are required when learning to play certain instruments which means strengthening these skills becomes inevitable.

Dance and singing help children to use their lungs and limbs in order to practice gross motor skills which are developed in the larger muscles in the body.

Sensory

Children grow to learn about the world from how they experience it through their senses. Over time, lessons learnt will allow a child’s brain to understand and respond to new sensory inputs in consistent ways. Creative activities such as painting, crafts with different types of materials, music, singing and dancing all help with this.

Cognitive

Many think the arts are only there to benefit creativity and imagination. This is wrong. The benefits go beyond this.

Starting with planning and organising to problem-solving, cognitive skills are also developed. These activities allow children to make connections and work things out for themselves.

Social

Creative activities actually open many doors when it comes to the social aspect of a child’s development. Children will work in groups when it comes to most of their activities such as an end-of-year theatre performance or a dance recital.

This offers valuable opportunities to learn social skills such as sharing, turn-taking, patience, empathy, communication and cooperation. These skills will not only be helpful through school performances but also in adulthood too.

Emotional

This is one of the most common benefits of the arts which is self-expression and healing. It is a healthy way of expressing heavy emotions and can be helpful when going through hard times.

It is a form of therapy that uses music, drama and writing to help young ones feel better. Creativity also allows students to take a step aside and try new experiences which build on skills such as patience and resilience.

If you find that your child is interested in anything related to the arts, you may find it is beneficial to enrol them into extracurriculars or even a school which offers support to children who choose the creative route to education.