As children, we all loved creating things – be it folding paper airplanes and
competing to see whose airplanes fly the furthest or making small and abstract
sculptures out of plasticine or air clay. There is no hard and fast rule (unlike
the many steps we have to remember to show in our math exams) and we are just
free to make something we actually like. Kids creativity and imagination knows
no boundary at all and before losing it all as they grow older, it is paramount
they cultivate them and most importantly, for parents to let their kids dream
and imagine as wildly as possible! No, it is not saying that once kids learn
art, they will one day become the next Van Gogh or Picasso. It is just allowing
the kids to ease their minds and allowing them to express themselves and have a
chance to be proud of something, even before they are able to speak lengthy and
full sentences. Now you might wonder,
why must they start young?
Isn’t it a little presumptuous to assume all kids love and want to learn
art?</em >
Do kids even know what they want?
Let us let you in on some of the many advantages one stand to gain if they
learn art from a very young age!</strong >
1. Problem Solving Skills
“Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he’ll
eat for a lifetime.”</em >
When learning anything, many of us might think it is best we give kids the exact
material and tell them exactly what to do. While this might work for subjects
such as math or science, it does not for art. Present kids with many form of
materials and leave it open ended – let them decide what they want to do and how
they want to manipulate the materials to achieve their goal or the image they
have in their beautiful minds. Not only will this improve their problem solving
skills as they figure how to create something they want to, it also engages in a
way no other subjects in school will. Most importantly, it also develops their
confidence and also the ability to stand by their own creation. By learning art,
we are giving kids the tools they will so sorely need.
2. Coming up with and Telling Stories</span >
A picture speaks a thousand words. This is especially true for kids who are much
more visual than most adults. With art, they create something, a concept, a
story that they want to tell and show the world. As kids, they might find it
hard to express themselves in ways that adults can understand and this can be
frustrating. With art, it can be a medium that transcends language – a medium
that they will find solace and comfort in being able to share their own story.
3. Trust their own abilities
Everyone has different abilities and everyone is different. Art allows kids to
dabble and find out what they are really good at – are they skilled at colours?
Maybe they have an eye for proportion? Kids take interest in things that they
are good at and fortunately with art, you can improve if you practise.
If they find a medium that they enjoy and practice it, they’ll improve.
Sometimes it is important to know that just because they are not good at
something means they can’t do something (at least in art), it is just that
they have not found the approach that works best for them yet. Finding and
trying again and again and finally getting something done right, will develop
a trust in their own abilities and help them cope with many challenges in
their future.</span >
4. Fine and gross motor skills
We can’t all expect kids to be able to run before they walk or even crawl, can
we? Art is akin to a process or a tool that helps kids use their limbs and also
their brain at a very young age. The initial scribbles on the paper or abstract
sculptures that make no sense might mean nothing. However, with the right tool,
which is this case is art, those meaningless scribbles will turn into bold
stokes and a story will eventually form on the papers. The fine motor and gross
skills learned in art will give your kids a kickstart and also prepare their
brain for further learning in the future!
5. Wellbeing of kids
As parents, we desire nothing more than for our children to grow up healthily
and happily. Art has been used widely by many therapists to help their patients
cope their trauma and keep their emotions in check. As kids grow up, there are
bound to be obstacles and challenges. Art is therapeutic and can be used as a
vehicle for emotion. It can also be seen as a relaxing and calming activity for
your kid to partake while they work through their emotions and issues. This list
is exhaustible and there are actually so many more advantages for kids to learn
art from a young age. This is what we strongly believe here at Visual Arts
Centre and we, just like you, want the best for kids!
If you are interested, check out our very own Kids Art Immersion Course that
is held every Sunday from 3:30pm to 5pm</a > -perfect timing to have
your child engage in some artistic pursuits after a late lunch or before an
early dinner! We are also having a new Chinese Ink Painting Class just for kids</a >, where they will get
to learn one of the most traditional form of art with instructors who are very
well versed in this form or art. Check out more about this new and interesting
course now!
Contact us today at 6255 0711 or drop us an email at info@visualartscentre.sg
for more information!!</strong >