5 reasons why your child should draw

Your child is smearing a blend of vibrant colors on a sheet of white paper. How do we know what it means ? How is this a sign of early cognitive ability ?

Your child often doesn’t have a definitive idea on the end product. In some ways he/she understands that it is more about the process than anything else.

Children are masters of the moment, every smearing of paint, sprinkle of glitter and stroke of the brush mesmerizes their bright little minds.

At the end of it all, it may lead to a total mess, but the nourishment to the soul and mind is vital. There has been concrete correlation found between engagement in the arts with measurable success in life.

(this study here makes great in depth arguments, worth a read !)

Children with artistic abilities tend to be creative thinkers and as such are more likely to patent an idea or think up new concepts. As Einstein said “The greatest scientists are artists as well.” Wouldn’t Da Vinci agree ? Art can be an amazing outlet for gifted children allowing them to express themselves differently. Studies have show it can help with autism and children with special needs (Art Therapy is now part of numerous programs for children with learning difficulties)

The benefits of learning how to draw, paint and create amazing work cannot be stressed enough. Anything is possible within the four edges of the canvas! Although it is hard to measure, here are some of the main benefits linked to children’s artistic development.

1. Motor and Coordination Skills

Even the simplest of tasks like using a paintbrush, free-handedly drawing straight lines or using scissors precisely enables the enhancement of fine motor skills. A child will quickly learn to hold a pencil correctly and have better handwriting stemming from the urge to perfect their creative adventure!

2. Presentation skills

Your child will be enthused and showcase their new creation to everyone! This does, indirectly, contribute to the child’s interactive and interpersonal skills. He or she will be encouraged to speak more and explain the ideas and feelings linked to the creative process thus allowing for improvements in their descriptive and presentation skills.

3. Project planning and execution skills

The challenges of creating a piece, for instance counting out the correct number of beads, reading instructions, working with a group, purchasing materials or simply visualising the steps required to complete the work will inevitably lead to higher cognitive skills and an ability to manage a project from start to finish.

4. Creativity

Talent can often go unfulfilled. It becomes true skill when it is honed and this comes with conscious training and practice. We tend to prioritize mathematics, sciences or sports. It is all too easy to brush aside a lot of activities that seem secondary to the more career-propelling studies. If a child’s creative side is not gradually nurtured, they will lose the skill and the abilities which come with it. It is vital a child is allowed to be inventive regardless of our understanding of the output. This will help with other aspects like thinking outside of the box or visual solutions to problems. Besides there is the pure enjoyment derived from seeing beauty in life and making something unique. Creativity is a source of happiness and positivity.

5. Decision Making and Critical Thinking

Creating a great piece requires solid critical thinking abilities and strong decision making skills. Art is a medium with which, the initial seed can be planted in the mind of the child allowing them to gradually become better at making the right decisions. As a child paints an apple, he or she makes a conscious choice and sees the result instantly. This immediate feedback loop will make the budding artist aware of mistakes like spilling out of the penciled boundaries. Step by step, the child will be able to draw the perfect red apple!

 

Any beautiful piece of work will be the result of successive, absolutely artistically correct, brilliant decisions. You will certainly want to frame it and hang it up on the wall at home !

Mathemagic now provide an art curriculum to teach your child the fundamentals of artistic creation. From pencil work to oil on canvas, we have expert artists ready to help your child follow his inspiration. We are also developing initiatives with exceptional artists who wish to showcase and sell their work. If you would like your child to develop their artistic skills, contact us now !!

mathemagicmd@gmail.com / +852 91354724

Author: Jafar Sadek is a postgraduate engineer from HKU, he is a keen artist and enjoys sharing his passion for artistic creation