Why Should Kids Learn Art From A Young Age?

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 >