Art Makes a Child Smart(er)

Art changes the brain. It’s as simple as that.  

You may wonder: why does my child need to be exposed to art? Isn't everything they see, do and hear about learning? My child’s brain is like a sponge, and they are learning every day. Where does art even fit in?

These are all great questions. It is very true that your child’s daily experiences – from physical movement to interactions with others – are all part of the learning process. Play is also an integral part of the learning process, and it pulls together the logical and creative parts of the brain. Language, play, crafts, activities, nature, food, music, and more are all parts of the development of a young brain. It would almost seem that art isn’t a core feature of learning, but you’d be mistaken.

Creating art and experiencing art supports many parts of your child’s social-emotional and multisensory development. As they grow, seeing and creating art will continue to help their brain development, from creating a greater sense of self-esteem to helping them master fine motor skills like holding a crayon, using scissors and manipulating small tools and objects. Looking at art teaches toddlers concepts like symbolism and abstraction. It also enforces pattern recognition and visual-spatial skills while teaching them the relationships between parts of a whole.

Start with Art

First and foremost, when it comes to art, remember it is a process, not a product. A preschool-aged child's early attempts at art look rudimentary at best. Has your child ever handed you paper with a scribble on it, and you thought, "what is this?" To your child, that's art! It's their early attempt at self-expression and developing their individuality. It only matters if there's a finished product. Every time your toddler creates something, they are reaping the rewards of art.

Exposure to art and the process of creating art create positive brain development in young children. Art stimulates both brain hemispheres, the right brain, which controls memory, attention, reasoning, and problem-solving and the left brain, which controls language, numbers, and scientific reasoning.

Research shows that creating or viewing art stimulates the motor cortex, even though no movement is involved. Research has also shown that art stimulates deeper state areas of the brain in addition to the visual and motor cortex. Studies have shown that creating and viewing art improves critical thinking and empathy.

Has an afternoon at an art gallery or museum or a day class painting pottery or learning a new craft ever left you feeling relaxed? The same is true for young children. Drawing, painting, crafts and ceramics increase serotonin levels in the brain, which helps us relax and reduce the feeling of stress. A young child's brain can also use art to express their emotional well-being. Art may help with feelings of anger, grief and fear.

Promoting Art at Home

 What you can do to promote art at home:

 Talk with your child about their art

Ask open-ended questions about their artwork. "Tell me about your picture!" or "Why did you choose that color?" are ways to help your child start using language to support their art. Always speak positively about their art and encourage them to talk about what they thought or felt when they made it.

Keep simple art supplies within reach.

Supplies don’t have to be elaborate to be fun and inspire creativity for your child. Keep paper and crayons handy for your child, and let them know they're available for use. As children age, add other creative elements like glue and objects they can easily manipulate safely.

Show them art

Take time to point out artwork. Take your child to an art museum, visit an art gallery or show them artwork at different places you visit. Ask them how they feel about different art pieces and use the artwork of different shapes, sizes and colors as discussion points with your child.