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Does your child really thrive at the arts and crafts table? Do they seem to be at their happiest with a drawing utensil or a lump of clay in their hands? You may want to weigh the advantages and challenges of enrolling them in art classes for kids.
Art education is so important to kids’ sensory, motor, mental, creative, and social development. There are few activities with as many widespread benefits. However, it can be difficult to know how to get started. That’s why Wondrfly is here to help you understand the importance of art education for kids and get you on your way to enriching your child’s life through art!
What are the Benefits of Art Classes for Kids?
The ways in which art can improve your child’s learning and development are myriad and varied. Art has a positive impact on emotions, the physical body, the mind, and much more. Read on to discover all the benefits of following your child’s passion for art!
Physical Benefits of Art for Kids
Painting, drawing, crafting, sculpting, and scores of other artistic mediums and practices encourage both fine and gross motor development.
Gross motor development refers to larger movements carried out by the big muscles of the torso, trunk, head, etc. Fine motor skills control precise, small movements like those executed by the hands and fingers.
Working on an art project of almost any kind can also build your child’s hand-eye coordination, particularly if the project has delicate, intricate details.
Cognitive Benefits of Art for Kids
Art promotes creativity in kids which boosts their cognitive powers by allowing them to think outside the box. Creativity has long been associated with higher intelligence in general.
Because it’s also a sensory activity that engages all the sensory areas of the brain, practicing art also helps form neural pathways in the brain, leading to improved overall cognition.
Art lessons for kids can also be a great source of critical thinking practice. The execution of any project is an open-ended process, throughout which your child will need to make a lot of decisions and plan ahead. This makes for excellent mental exercise.
In addition, art appreciation can be a terrific learning tool for kids who are visual learners. It can be incorporated into any lesson or topic for a fresh, exciting spin.
Emotional Benefits of Art for Kids
Art offers kids an opportunity to escape into the world of their imagination, a safe space where they can process emotions as well as enhance their creativity. Kids can learn to express themselves through art, and they can also learn about the emotions and thoughts of others by viewing and interpreting their art.
Social Benefits of Art for Kids
When we look at any piece of art, we see a reflection of the inner world of the artist. Through viewing art, kids can expand their emotional vocabulary and their empathy by exploring the emotional states of others.
Art education also gives kids a window into a world of different cultures and experiences. Kids can use art to explore and celebrate their own heritage, or to learn about the heritage of others. Art opens kids up to a more global worldview and a greater understanding of diversity and tradition.
How Do I Know My Child is Ready for Art Lessons?
Art classes are widely available both online and in person for kids of all ages. The main safety consideration when deciding whether your child is ready for art classes is mouth related. Namely, babies and toddlers can often be prone to testing objects in their mouths and can have a hard time distinguishing between food and non-food items.
So, if you feel your child would be more likely to munch on art supplies than use them, unsupervised art is an obvious no-no. The other consideration is motor development. If your child is able to securely grasp utensils such as crayons and paintbrushes in their hands, they’re ready to rock!
How Do I Prepare for My Child’s First Art Class
Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before signing your child up for art classes.
What is the cost of the class and the required supplies?
Am I required to provide supplies or will they be available in class?
What is the class schedule structure like? Is the class weekly? Daily? How many classes are in a class package?
What type of art techniques and mediums will my child be using?
What health and safety precautions are in place at the studio?
What experience and training have the instructors had? Are they friendly and positive?
There’s a lot to consider before enrolling your child in art classes. One of the key deciding factors in choosing an art class for your child is their level and scope of interest. How excited are they about art, and what particular techniques and styles really motivate them? A great way to evaluate your child’s interest is to try a free online art lesson.
Free Online Art Classes for Kids
This list of free online art resources for kids will help you start your child’s art education journey off right! These sites offer a variety of completely free art lessons and tutorials for kids, so you can try out a variety of techniques and styles before committing to more traditional art classes.
We hope this list of free online resources helps you on your way to enriching your child’s life through art.
If you decide more traditional online or in-person art classes are right for your child, start your search at wondrfly.com! We’re the leading directory for children’s activity providers in Jersey City and Hoboken, and we’re only getting bigger and better!
For more of why your kids’ interests rock, and how to help them grow, look out for more from Passionate Parenting on the Wondrfly blog.
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