When you bring out the paint brushes or pull the bench up to the piano, you’re doing more than allowing your child to be creative or teaching them a musical skill. You are increasing their capacity to learn!
According to a federal report by the Arts Education Partnership and
the President’s Council on the Humanities, students who participated regularly in the arts (music, drama, visual arts) did significantly better in a wide range of subject areas and in standardized testing than those who did not.
So how exactly do the arts enhance children’s ability to learn? A study by the Center of the Arts at Columbia University suggested the following:
Creative Thinking ~ Children involved in arts programs could find a greater number of ideas and innovative approaches to solve a problem than those student not participating in arts programs. Arts students could utilize more detail in formulating solutions and tended to keep an open mind, not rushing to premature judgments about a possible solution.
Expression ~ Arts students were better able to organize and express their thoughts and ideas. They were also able to bring together divergent thoughts, feelings, and facts.
Cooperation ~ Arts students worked better with peers and adults. Children in orchestra and chorus learn firsthand how their efforts contribute or take away from the group objective.
Focused Attention ~ Students of the arts are better able to engage in sustained and focused attention.
Lisa Philips, author of The Artistic Edge: 7 Skills Children Need to Succeed in an Increasingly Right Brain World, suggests additional benefits of the arts.
Confidence ~ The arts give children the opportunity to build confidence in order to speak and/or perform before an audience.
Perseverance ~ To acquire a new skill, whether musical or artistic, requires practice and learning from mistakes. Learning a new skill teaches your brain how to learn new skills!
Non-Verbal Communication ~ Theater especially teaches kids how to interpret body language.
Receiving Constructive Feedback – When a child is involved in arts, whether visual or performance, there will be opportunity for their work to be critiqued. Learning how to process constructive criticism is an important tool for learning and for life.
Certainly the more we give our children arts opportunities, the more benefits they will reap. Here are some ways in which homeschool families can make the arts a part of their education:
Music lessons ~ Homeschool kids have an advantage in scheduling flexibility. Where other children have only after school and weekend hours for lessons and practice, homeschool families can schedule lessons during the day and practice at any time.
Community theater ~ Most communities have opportunities for drama involvement. Where we used to live, there was a theater group devoted to productions by homeschool families.
Art studios and music stores ~ These are great resources not only for supplies but also for information regarding opportunities.
Local library ~ Libraries often offer many programs that encourage creativity and artistic expression.
Church ~ Music is a big part of most churches and drama, even dance, is becoming more and more a part of the church experience.
Public school ~ Yes, I’m still talking about homeschool families! Many public schools allow homeschool students to participate in their arts programs, like band and orchestra. It could be a resource worth looking into.
Well-stocked closet ~ Having things on hand to assist with the creative process can be the best resource for promoting creative endeavors. Of course these include paints and clay but can also be a tub of recyclable containers and materials. Kids love to build and create with anything!
So help your kids crank up their creativity and make the arts a priority. They will be better for the effort!
Sources:
http://www.berksmusic.com/whymusic/whymusicimpactofthearts.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/01/22/top-10-skills-children-learn-from-the-arts/
Copyright © 2014 J. Hoffman / Global Student Network
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Email: JHoffman@GlobalStudentNetwork.com