Why Art and Creativity is Important for Young Children

The Mess might help them flourish

It’s Sunday afternoon, and what’s supposed to be a lazy and laid back weekend turned into a full on art attack. My daughter got so carried away in her crafting, and after she enlisted her little brother to help her make art, my house had officially turned into a colorful war zone. Uuggh. The cleanup is never fun but when they are busy expressing themselves I can actually see the light in their eyes. So I wanted to do an article on why exactly art and creativity is such an essential part of children’s development.

You might think that all they do is doodle, but when small children get to craft and make art they truly get to express themselves. They get to explore different colors, textures, shapes and effects. They learn that every action has a reaction. They learn that while they are creating they are learning new things and that in a sense they are free. They get to be swooped away to a magical world. Yes they might get their bodies covered in whatever materials they are using but this is essentially part of how they learn and they are masters of the moment, just going with whatever it is they are experiencing at that moment.

Nurturing your child’s creative side ensures that they develop mentally, socially and emotionally and they learn to analyze and problem solve all at the same time. When they are puzzling pieces together basic math skills get taught and something as simple as color mixing dabs into the early science education. So while it might seem like on big mess to you, your child is actually learning skills that will take them far beyond the craft room.

Ideas for crafting that I really like include creative molding with play dough, finger painting with safe paint materials, drawing with thick and chunky crayons, and cut and paste projects. The guys from Eco Kids really have some amazing natural and child friendly crafting materials.

So if you want to help your child develop their creative skills here are some top tips for ensuring the most productive environment for crafting:

• Get ready for the mess – Yes they do make a mess otherwise there would be no fun in it, so set up a dedicated crafting area. There are however many activities such as felt puzzles that ensure no mess, so do some research on what different activities you can give them to do.
• Don’t tell them what to do – also don’t draw with them, as this often leads to frustration and let them take pride in what they have created.
• Make crafting part of everyday life – something as simple as a blob of shaving cream on a mirror can turn into spontaneous fun and ensure quality art time.

Allow them to explore, touch, feel and create. Remember that you are helping a little person develop into the best version of themselves and being creative is a fundamental stepping stone in their transition from being just a kid to becoming an amazing adult.