Early exposure to the arts makes a difference

According to experts, getting children involved in the arts at an early age is key for maximizing learning and development potential.  The arts  teaches children skills that benefit them for the rest of their lives.

The arts are what make us human. The arts are what connect us to the world, to each other. We can all learn to spell and write and do algebra, but the arts talk about those things that make us human beings, what we find beautiful, what we care about, how we share, and how we reflect what the world means to us.

1; Children learn positive habits, behaviors and attitudes through the arts.

Learning a musical instrument, creating a painting, learning to dance, or singing in a chorus teaches that taking small steps, practicing to get better at something, being persistent, and being patient, even in the face of adversity, are important for growth and improvement. In other words, the arts teach habits, behaviors and attitudes that are necessary for success in any field of endeavor.

 2: It  enhance creativity

Imagine an art class in which students create an original canvas filled with color and creative use of space; a music class where they develop their own rhythms; a theater class where they create and produce their own plays. The arts are a wonderful arena for fostering creativity, an important skill to have in a rapidly changing world.

 3; Students  can develop critical intellectual skills.

The arts foster critical higher levels of thinking that carry over to learning other subjects and in life. Through the arts, children learn to observe (What do you see in a painting?), interpret (How should we play this music?); see different perspectives (What is the artist’s perspective? What is your perspective?), analyze (Let’s take apart this play and study each part separately.) and synthesize (How do all the parts of the dance fit together to create a “whole”?).

 4:  The arts teach students methods for learning language skills.

As students learn to read notes, compose music, play an instrument, learn dance steps, create a painting, act in a drama, they are also learning how to develop new concepts, build vocabulary, and learn a new language.

 5: The arts help students learn mathematics.

The arts require measurement, number manipulation, and proportional thinking,  all of which foster mathematical thinking. Students also learn patterns (e.g. musical rhythms and dance patterns); spatial and geometric relationships (visual art patterns); and three-dimensional skills (making models of clay).

 6; The arts expand on and enrich learning in other subjects.

Artworks provide a visual context for learning about historical periods. Music, painting, drama, and dance help literature come alive. Graphic designs and drawings, such as those made by inventors and engineers, complement learning about scientific and technological principles and innovations. 

 7: Aesthetic learning is its own reward.

The arts teach about beauty, proportion, and grace. They help to examine conflict, power, emotion, and life itself. The power of the arts is in its wondrous ability to give us joy, to help us understand tragedy, to promote empathy, and to make the written word come alive.

 8: Children’s arts talents and interests are developed.

The arts provide an important avenue for developing a passion to learn, grow, improve, and do something productive with one’s life. Many children discover their talents and interests through the arts: they develop talents in acting, drama, painting, music, dance, sculpture, or creative writing.

 9: The arts teach teamwork!! Children learn tolerance and understanding of others.

Through the arts, children learn how to work together to achieve great things. As they work together, they learn to understand differences and diversity. They learn how teamwork contributes to great performance. By teaching students how to live and work together, the arts contribute to making schools safer and more peaceful learning environments.