“Every child is an artist until he’s told he’s not an artist.” – John Lennon

Children are natural artists. They scribble with markers, crayons, pens, and everything else they can find. The surface doesn’t matter. They scribble on walls if they cannot find paper. As parents, we try to regulate what they do. We tell them what is right and wrong, without realizing that we could be hindering their natural growth as artists.

Arts and crafts are both fun activities. They are also important for early childhood development as they offer many benefits. They improve fine motor skills, art stimulate creativity, improve problem-solving skills, are good for hand-eye coordination, and provide a way for them to express their emotions and feelings. Many of these benefits will help them throughout their lives, which is why art is so important for children.

The Importance of Art in Human Life

Art is a gift. Not just for young children, art is good even for the adults. It helps us understand the world and gives meaning to our lives. Art helps us get a deeper understanding of human emotions. It also improves our self-awareness. It helps us open up to new experiences and ideas.

Art is a vehicle of self-expression, it provides therapeutic relief and is also a way to appreciate the beauty of life. It has even been used often to chronicle history. The different culture events on different-level will give you a detailed understanding of the impact of art and its value in human life.

Art has also been used to bring about social change. Governments use paintings, murals, sculptures, movies, songs, and drama as propaganda to launch information campaigns and change public opinion. The Government of India, for example, uses paintings and murals to discourage tree felling. A picture of “Uncle Sam” is used in the US with the slogan “I want you for U.S. Army”.

Source: Chitkara University – https://www.chitkara.edu.in

Here are some major ways in which art can impact human life – 

Developing Creativity

Art encourages creative thinking. It provides a way for children to express their ideas and feelings. It may also be a form of communication that lets them interpret what they see around them and find meaning. Visual representation helps the children develop skills like analyzing information, making connections, and forming arguments.

It can develop creativity in the following ways – 

• Art may evoke powerful emotions
• It exposes us to new perspectives
• Art may visually stimulate the mind
• It can improve our critical thinking skills

Art can also be very useful in a classroom. Teachers can introduce new ideas and concepts, they can use art to convey complex topics, and it also helps them build a relationships with the students. Children find it easier to identify patterns and analyze how elements interact.

Emotional Development

Art is very effective in evoking emotions. Whether we are watching a performance, listening to music, or looking at a painting, it exposes us to a variety of emotions. It also helps us understand our own emotions better. It allows us to understand the feelings of others and connect. When we can connect with art, there is a strong emotional connection, which lets us appreciate meaning and beauty. It builds understanding.

In young children and students, art promotes social-emotional learning in different ways, including self-expression. It is often a medium that helps them process their feelings and express their thoughts and emotions, which helps them develop self-esteem and self-awareness. It can have a therapeutic effect on those who face problems expressing themselves and managing their emotions.

Improving Cognitive Skills

Art activities can also improve cognitive development in children. When they paint, draw, and sculpt, they are making something new and are also improving their problem-solving skills, memory, and hand-eye coordination. When engaged in an art activity, kids will have to decide about the shapes, sizes, and colors, which improve their decision-making and critical thinking skills. They can also improve their visual-spatial skills, which will help them interpret images better and process visual information more efficiently.

A lot of children with underdeveloped fine motor skills are going to school now. With the help of art, a parent can teach dexterity skills at home at an early age. The simple acts of gripping and pencil control will help. A creative activity like art is a simple and fun way of ushering in a change.

Painting is a good example of this. A child has to hold a paintbrush like a pencil. The strokes are more exciting compared to writing down words. Painting is a very good way of teaching hand-eye coordination as the children try to copy the shapes, lines, patterns, and directions.

Social Skills

Teamwork and collaboration are often needed in an art project. Whether it is a class performance or group painting, children will have to work as a team. They must share ideas and help each other, which improves their social skills. They will learn and improve valuable skills like communication, making compromises, and solving problems. When they work together on an art project, children will learn how to appreciate differing perspectives and find out how to adjust.

In art, children can often express themselves better compared to articulating verbally, which may improve their communication skills. Art is often an effective nonverbal way of communication for children, especially for those who struggle to communicate and interact socially.

Cultural enrichment

Art also helps the kids develop a sense of cultural awareness because they can learn to appreciate the various traditions and perspectives. Exposure to works of art from different cultures and times will expand the child’s awareness and knowledge. It will make them more open-minded. Also, observing various sculptures, portraits, and collages may inspire the young mind to learn more about different historical periods and cultures from around the world.

When children begin to draw and paint, many of them will become curious about the art of other people. If parents can encourage them, this may even establish a lasting interest in culture and arts. Some of them may even take up arts as a profession in the future.

Art should play a key role in the development of a child because of the many advantages it offers. Art education isn’t just about teaching how to draw and paint. It gives them a way to express themselves, connect with the world, think critically, and also appreciate the world around them and the various cultures and views. Art is important for both the physical and mental development of a child.