When the kitchen table becomes a Craft Central, you may not realize that your kid is cultivating lifelong skills underneath all the glitter and paint.
When crafting or creating art, children are able to develop fine motor skills. Filling in a set section in a coloring book, handling safety scissors to cut straight lines, even properly drawing a circle are great ways for your child to master control of their skills. This process helps them develop and master control of their fine motor skills, which is vital to social education. Their bilateral coordination know-how improves as they learn to use both hands at the same time.
All this happens when children color, paint, glue, and cut. The faster their motor skills develop, the better they can do on their own, from drinking and eating by themselves to tying their own shoelaces.
When it comes to literacy skills, arts and crafts allow them to cover a wide range of areas- from speaking and reading to listening and understanding. As children craft and paint, they learn to verbalize their work, which develops their communication skills. They also enrich their vocabulary by listening to their parents and following verbal instructions when they use their listening skills. But there’s more, there’s always more, and here’s why experts emphasize the importance of crafting in children’s development.
Arts and crafts promote problem-solving skills
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Problem-solving is one of the most important skills children can develop because it trains them to face mounting complex academic and interpersonal issues as they grow.
We can all agree that the ability to meet life’s uncertainties confidently “is a vital skill for school “readiness.” More often than not, children learn by watching teachers and parents solve problems.
However, problem-solving skills must be cultivated, sustained, and encouraged and one way of doing it is through continuous preparation – arts and crafts are just one way.
While structured crafts and arts like packaged kits or coloring books may provide guidance, more loosely defined projects can promote real creativity in children. According to pediatric mental experts, the best part about arts and crafts is the creative possibilities are limitless.
Art feeds the young mind, and the young mind feeds from the art. Through art, children learn about themselves, learn about the environment, and develop their imagination. There is no wrong or right about art – only what feels good to you. Kids live in the present moment, and art is an extraordinary creative medium for children to develop who they are.
It is mind mastery, not just paper and crayons
Arts and crafts teach kids about spatial relation – think fitting and gluing objects on a template – and moments like when they learn mixing blue and red paint creates purple. They help kids learn problem-solving and flexible thinking skills as well. By doing so, kids are also developing skills that primary emotion regulation, such as self-control, patience, and frustration tolerance. When they reach their goal, they then store that success -which can also contribute to improved self-efficacy and self-esteem.
Art and crafts empower and promote self-expression
Children love to imagine and express themselves. But a lack of proper language skills deters them from conveying their beliefs and thoughts. So, they are always looking for ways to express what is inside their minds. Arts and crafts activities can help them express themselves freely, provide them with a creative outlet to explore, communicate and deal with scary emotions in a safe way.
Current events are times for you to check in with your little one to ensure they understand potentially stressful news. If an event or issue has an impact on your family, you can create a textile artwork together that sends a positive message or a call to action. The resulting artwork can be placed in your home’s living room or taken to a local rally. By encouraging kids to give a visual form to their voices and become advocates, you can help them connect with a sense of control and promote resilience around life’s uncertainties.
Arts and crafts matter for children’s self-esteem
Recent findings show that kids who draw, paint, play music, or read more often feel better about themselves. The research also suggested that “it’s not necessary for kids to be good at art” to get the benefit of higher self-esteem. Stressing the natural value of the process could encourage more input by children who are reluctant to get involved owing to fears of failure.
Arts and crafts may be well important in promoting children’s self-esteem – a key marker of positive development. Creating a piece of art simply enhances kids’ self-esteem. When a child completes an art and craft activity, and parents praise her, she feels happy and confident. Therefore, it’s vital to choose art and craft activities based on the children’s age.
Arts and crafts augment visual processing skills
Creative activities that help children recognize colors, patterns and shapes, enhance visual processing skills. These skills are a key attribute of cognitive development, especially during the early stages of life.
Integrating art with different subjects nurtures the quality of learning. Nobody can’t argue the importance of art in learning. It engages kids more than textbook learning because it is immersive and fun. Observing or creating art helps children understand and learn concepts better. For example, if children are made to color and draw numbers, they are able to memorize them more easily. Art fosters language development as well. For instance, children can be taught a new vocabulary and be made to draw it. This also helps improve observation skills.
Ultimately, arts and crafts are a good way for children to understand the world around them and themselves. It is also a great way for families to bond and spend quality time together.
