Exploring the Hidden Benefits of Art Appreciation

From boosting a child’s creativity and imagination to building fine motor skills and concentration, art is an instrumental piece of any early childhood education curriculum. While we know that creating art can be beneficial for children, developing an appreciation for art can be valuable too. Take a look with Play Street Museum at the hidden benefits of art appreciation and a few ways you can promote a love for art with your child.

Art is Expressive. When children create art they have the opportunity to express how they are feeling. Similarly, when they view art they are given the opportunity to observe and interpret how others are feeling. This can help them build empathy and discover their own self-expression as they think through and formulate ideas about what they see and verbally describe the feeling that the art piece evokes.?

Art is Inclusive. You can find artwork created by those of any ethnic and socioeconomic background. When children learn about artists similar to themselves, they can find a common bond and develop confidence about their own abilities. When they explore artists from different backgrounds they can gain an appreciation and respect for others.

Art is Educational. From science to geography to history and culture, art can teach you things you may not learn anywhere else. Art can take you around the world, into the past, or even inside of the human body! According to the Social Science & Business Research Network , 65% of children are visual learners so it is no surprise the images they see often have more staying power in their mind than the things that they hear. When children are exposed to a wide array of visual art, they can discover new interests and gain a deeper insight into the subjects learned at school.

Art is Fun. Developing an appreciation for art and learning about artists doesn’t have to be all viewing and no doing! When children view the self-portraits of Frida Kahlo or Vincent Van Gogh for example, this would be a great time for them to create their own self-portrait and reinforce what they have learned.?