Why Art
and Creativity Are Important
Your preschooler is having a blast finger-painting with a mix
of colors. 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. Allowing kids to enjoy
the process of creation -- can reap big rewards. "Children will be better
off overall 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.
Enjoy,
Ms. Nora Sierra
EC Assistant Principal
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