The Magic of Art in the Realm of Early Learning
Ever notice how a plain, simple crayon or some bright splash of paint brightens up a child’s face? Those apparently chaotic scribbles and vibrant-coloured creations aren’t just ways to pass the time but are powerful tools for learning and development. In this respect, for a young child, art is not only a tool used for creativity but also an important part of cognitive, emotional, and social development. Encouraging artistic expression invites children to know the world in ways that words alone simply cannot.
Cognitive Benefits: How art supports brain development
What appears as an innocuous activity, there is a whole lot of action happening inside the head of a child when he or she engages in art. Every time a child holds a brush or a crayon, they develop their motor skills.
In selecting colours or drawing a house, for example, they engage in processing spatial relationships, try out their ideas, and then refine their focus.
Emotional Expression: Using art as a tool for emotional growth
Perhaps one of the most important roles that art plays in the life of a child is as a medium for the expression of his or her innermost feelings. Most young children, especially at their preschool age, are often at a loss for words to describe what they feel inside. Art offers them a non-verbal means of expressing themselves through which they are able to bring out those feelings for which they are as yet unable to find the words.
Not only does encouraging children to express their emotions through art help in building emotional intelligence, but it also enhances a child’s self-esteem. When finishing a drawing or craft, a child views this as an accomplishment and enhanced confidence, therefore resilience.
Creative Fun: Ideas to Embed Art into Daily Routine
Adding art to your daily routine can be as simple as can be, and it doesn’t have to involve a lot of complicated techniques. Here are a few easy, fun ideas to bring creativity right into your home, following preschool teaching methods
- Accessible Art Supplies: Keep the basic art supplies, such as crayons, markers, and paper, accessible so creative times pop up at any moment during the day. This promotes the creative thinking emphasized in many preschool programs.
- Nature Art: Using leaves, rocks, flowers, and other elements in nature to make art is an entirely green way to create. It instructs your child about nature while developing their imagination.
- Story Time Illustrations: This entails hearing a book and asking the child to draw a scene from their favourite part of the book. It works through their comprehension and sharpens it.
- Mess-Friendly Zones: When it comes to playing with art, don’t be afraid to get your child messy; that’s half the fun! Having a designated place where they can play with art without bounds will spur them into experimentation- something that you may find in pre-primary schools.
Benefits: Laying the Foundation for a Lifetime of Creative Expression
The skills that children derive from making art will stand them in good stead later in life. Early childhood arts education imparts useful lifelong skills in solving problems, thinking critically, and flexibility to children.
Nurturing Young Artistic Minds
Art is a strong tool in early childhood development; it opens up avenues that create possibilities of exploration and expression.
At Podar Prep, we believe that to build a better world, creativity in the young and fresh minds needs to be nurtured. Our system at Podar Prep is an art-integrated curriculum that helps children acquire skills related to self-expression, critical thinking, and finding newer ways of looking at things. Ready to kick-start your child’s creativity? Enrol now!
