Often times as a special area teacher, I have to justify my content area. Sometimes this justification is to schools, sometimes parents, and sometimes students, but mostly to society as a whole. We are always asked the age old question, “Why do I/we/my child need to take (fill in the blank)?”. The short answer, is that the special area classes and electives give your child a break from the dry, but necessary, classes, such as Math, History, and English Language Arts, allowing them to be better focused during those courses. Our classes help students become well-rounded individuals who are confident when trying something outside of their comfort zone, and builds opportunities for connections within their communities. “Art in all of its manifestations (visual art, music, literature, dance, theater, and more) is an important feature of human societies because it serves as a cohesive symbolic communicative system conveying cultural norms, history, ideas, emotions, esthetics, and so on.” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4041074/) BOOM! But, in case you are still like yea, yea, yea, let me give you some more reasons. Due to my years of experience as an Art Teacher, I am going to focus on the benefits of my area of expertise :)
From the very earliest of ages, when those little hands are grabbing for everything, and minds are trying to make sense of the world, Art is necessary. Art can teach fine motor skills such as grasping small objects (crayons), gripping pencils, mark-making and scribbles, cutting, squeezing, and threading. 3D Arts allow children to build construction skills like stacking. Creating art for the process, not the product, allows young children to feel a sense of achievement as they hand you the picture they made for you. They begin learning emotions such as pleasure, joy, and pride.
As students begin their academic journey, Art develops innovative thinking, enhances problem-solving skills, builds brain strength, and increases academic performance. A study conducted by the National Endowment for Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, found that “Students who study art are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and 3 times more likely to be awarded for school attendance.” (https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-arts-education#fnref1) Art teaches students how to overcome fears, work through “mistakes”, take criticism, GIVE criticism, own their successes, and even their failures. Art can teach students shapes, lines which lead to letters, patterns, colors, culture, history, how to design a visually pleasing presentation, craftsmanship, the importance of effort, and abstract thinking skills.
Regardless of age, Art is proven to reduce stress and anxiety. We are starting to see an increase in the need for certified Art Therapists as research continues to indicate the benefits of art and creativity on mental health issues. Studies on art and mental health have found that art, whether viewing or creating, can reduce cortisol levels, which are markers for stress. Studies have also found that creating art provides a sense of accomplishment, which can help stimulate the release of dopamine, which is the chemical that makes us feel good, increases our drive, and improves our concentration. Art has also been proven to create conditions for mindfulness, as we are more focused on the present moment, our feelings, thoughts, and sensations, and can be used as s therapeutic technique. It helps boost self-esteem, build connections to self, community, and within other areas in school and life.
These reasons (and many more!), is why I do what I do. Advocating for the Arts is as much a part of this company as the colorful projects, unique techniques, and products. So, as always, I encourage you to spend a few creative minutes for YOURSELF and your kids, each week! FEEL the benefits for yourself, and watch the growth and joy in your children.
Happy Creating!-Ally