Why Art and Creativity Are Important

_Elsa_

Early the next morning Olivia does some googling to see what she can find to help her friends be more creative.

‘Your preschooler is having a blast finger-painting with a mix of colors. Trying to be encouraging, you ask her, “What are you making?” and she shrugs. Until you mentioned it, she hadn’t given it any thought. Little kids are masters of the moment — they love the way it feels when they smear paint on paper, how it looks when they sprinkle glitter, and even the soft sound a brush makes as it crosses the page, says Amy Yang, founder of Brooklyn Design Lab, an art school for children. Unlike older kids and adults, most toddlers and preschoolers aren’t self-conscious about what they’re doing or focused on creating a finished product. That can be hard for parents to accept, says Lisa Ecklund-Flores, cofounder and executive director of Church Street School for Music and Art, in New York City. But letting go — and allowing kids to enjoy the process of creation — can reap big rewards. “Children will be better off in the long run if they’re allowed just to be in the moment and express themselves,” she says. 

Why Art?

Fostering creativity won’t just increase your child’s chances of becoming the next Picasso. You’re also helping him develop mentally, socially, and emotionally, says Ecklund-Flores. Creating art may boost young children’s ability to analyze and problem-solve in myriad ways, according to Mary Ann F. Kohl, author of Primary Art: It’s the Process, Not the Product. As kids manipulate a paintbrush, their fine motor skills improve. By counting pieces and colors, they learn the basics of math. When children experiment with materials, they dabble in science. Most important perhaps, when kids feel good while they are creating, art helps boost self-confidence. And children who feel able to experiment and to make mistakes feel free to invent new ways of thinking, which extends well beyond the craft room.’ (Source) 

“Hmmm,” Olivia thinks to herself. “Even though this article is relating art towards young children I think it might apply to any age group. I’ll keep that in mind when I see them again.” 

Let’s continue - 4 reasons why art is important for our society

Start at the beginning – Olivia teachers her friends how to paint