Sandra Candelas

Creative Activities 149

Ms. Jennifer Alexander

Why Are the Arts important?

What are the Arts? The arts are, forms of human expression and creativity (What are
arts?,2013). The arts involve music, dance, drama, and visual art. Research has shown that the
arts help students be successful in all areas of the school curriculum and also promotes the
development of the whole child. Child development in the areas of cognitive, social emotional,
physical, and language development can be enhanced by providing art programs in school
(Mayeska,2013).
Language skills are acquired when teachers introduce children to art materials and let
experiment take place. According to Piaget, children learn by doing that comes from objects
(Mayeska,2012). Children experiment like scientists to find out how things work around their
environment (trial and error), and teachers can acknowledge their efforts and increase the
students vocabulary. Introducing children to the elements of art, such as, line, form, shape,
texture, hues, patterns, bright, dark, can help expend their vocabulary. As discussed in class,
helping children express themselves when making art work, by simply asking questions, such as,
tell me about your art work? allows children to verbalize and think about language. A dramatic
center can encourage language development. Children socialize and learn from one another.
Second language learners benefit with socializing with other children that are more proficient in
the English language. When children engage in dramatic play, they have to listen and
comprehend one another in order to play harmoniously (Mayeska,2012).

Physical skills are enhanced when children work with a variety of art materials. Cutting
paper, gluing together collages, experimenting with clay, making finger paintings, coloring with
crayons, group murals, and painting at easels are activities that cover both large and fine motor
control. Even if children do not have the chance to finish a project, just the simple fact of process
over product is the important element in the development of concept. Hand eye coordination are
also exercised in art activities. When children draw or paint they are coordinating hands and eyes
in their learning process. All the previous activities and skills will help the developing child for
later readiness in reading and writing materials. Creative movement and music not only helps
with motor development, but also stimulates self-expression. Children learn to appreciate various
types of music and cultural diversity with music like pop, classic, country, orchestra, or jazz.
Moreover, Art and music can also help children develop their own aesthetic sense
(Mayeska,2012).
In addition, cognitive skills are attained in art programs. In the process of creating an art
work, children discover what multiple mediums can and cannot do. Many concepts are learned
and previous experiences remembered and reinforced through art. When painting or drawing a
picture, many brain processes are used. For instance, a child has to remember past experiences
and put them together into a visual communication that is either three dimensional or two
dimensional. Creativity takes place from basic knowledge of people, animals or things.
Creativity can be carried over to other parts of the curriculum in future academic success. For
example, writing an essay requires complex brain processes that are easily expressed from
previous experiences with creative art. Critical thinking and flexibility thinking in math and
science are gained through hands on experiences with art mediums and materials. As an

example, children learn how different materials work well with others and matter is changeable,
not fixed. (Mayeska,2012).
The arts can also provide the Social and emotional aspect of development. When
children work together in groups to make certain projects such as, murals, collages social skills
are gained. Children have to cooperate and negotiate with one another to be able to finish a
project (Mayeska,2012).Children gain communication skills to meet their needs and learn how to
act in society as accepted behavior when conflict with peers occur. (Kohl, n.d.). These types of
skills are key, in later success in school and work places. Being able to problem solve and think
of ways to get messages through without reacting on emotions can provide a life skill needed to
get along with others, for future work places. Self-regulation skills can be developed and
stimulated from music, drawing, painting, and drawing activities. These types of art activities
help children discover ways to self-care, relax, and a way to ventilate negative feelings in a
positive way. According to the article Why Art?, Texas secondary school students who
participated in band, orchestra or choir reported the lowest lifetime incidence of substance
abuse(2013). It also fosters development of self and self-esteem. There are no wrong or right
answers. Every individual is creative in their own way. Teachers show appreciation and help
children gain confidence in themselves and the necessary skills needed to succeed, similarly, in
other areas of curriculum (Mayeska,2012).
In an early childhood program, an art program can have many benefits to the
development of the whole child. The art program can be integrated in all areas of the curriculum.
For instance, children learn with multiple hands on experiences, and simply singing the alphabet
and incorporating numericals can make learning fun and interesting. Math concepts are also
introduced, and with time and repetition of activities, children acquire knowledge

(Mayeska,2012). Being creative and thinking outside the box is what many of our historic
inventors possessed. As discussed in class, we dont want children to think in conventional ways
and have wrong or right answers because there is no right and wrong answer. There is, however,
a gray area. The arts delivers the development of self, and self-awareness skills can be
discovered. Teachers can also help children discover self-regulation skills by providing students
with tips that help them discover how to ventilate negative feelings through music, dance, drama,
painting or drawing. The art program offers the creativity needed to achieve advanced academic
success. Without it, children will not be inspired to use their imagination, to be unique. Simply
preparing children with standardized tests is not covering different skills. Children are human
beings that also need to enjoy life and the beauty of it, not just down to business studying; this
can discourage some children from school. According to the article Why Art?, At risk students
,who almost dropped out of school, said that the arts have kept them from dropping out. In
conclusion, the arts program needs to be a part of the school curriculum considering many
students have different types of intelligences that are related to art and creativity. Individuals
with kinesthetic intelligence will learn through activities with movement. An individual with
visual intelligence would benefit from the visual arts. Everyone is unique in their style of
learning, and if arts are cut down, many students will lose interest. The goal is to keep children
interested and in school.

References
What is the arts? (2013). Retrieved from Ask:
http://www.ask.com/web?q=what+are+the+arts&qsrc=0&o=15732&l=dir&ad=SEO&an=SEO&a
p=bing.com
Why Art? (2013). Retrieved from Art in Action: http://www.artinaction.org/w/WhyArt
Kohl, M. F. (2013). The Importance Of Art In A Child's Development. Retrieved from Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/maryann-kohl-importance-of-art/379002442/
Mayesky, M. (2012). Creative Activities for Young Children. Belmont: Wadsworth.