Children are fast learners, so why is literature, art, and music so important? Read on to find out!
Photo courtesy of Picsea.
What do you think of when you think of children and art? Many of us remember our days in elementary school when we would make macaroni art for our mom. Maybe you remember the special classes you would go to everyday like music and library time. You remember the music you learned in elementary school and the smell of your old school’s library. In fact, many of us reminisce on that time period in our lives, but have now have grown up and have children of our own.
As parents you want your children to grow up with access to art, music, and literature. The importance of these three subjects is astounding and helps your child not only academically, but socially. This can create a bond between you and your child when you interact with them using these three subjects.
While all of this sounds great, how exactly does a parent achieve this with their child? There are a few ways that you and your child can have a great relationship with the arts while also creating a strong bond between the two of you. This article will explore different ways that you can incorporate art into your child's life.
Many children adore books. During my eight years of experience as a preschool teacher, I learned the love of books for children is unmatched. There is a sense of wonder and curiosity that leads children to pick up a book and look through pictures and words. Many public education institutions have integrated reading as a part of their curriculum. This includes reading aloud, which is encouraged by early childhood professionals. Why is reading aloud so important to children and what does it do for their mental growth?
According to Simone’s Kids, “Reading out loud to children strengthens their ability to visualize images, grasp the plot of a story, and build vocabulary. Each of these basic skills provides the foundation for more advanced ones.” This will expand the child’s vocabulary before he or she begins to write or even read. This arguably helps the child understand the world around them better and also helps them communicate better. How can you use this to bond with your child?
When reading aloud, you may come across words that your kids don’t know. Once you get to these words, read them slowly and explain to them what this word means. Throughout the week, use the word and encourage your child to use it. It can even become a fun game between you and your child, which eventually leads to a closer bond between the two of you.
This blog talks about music and its importance in music therapy. Not only is this helpful for adults, but for children too. In a study done by Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute, music can actually accelerate the development of your child. According to the institute, “Music instruction appears to accelerate brain development in young children, particularly in the areas of the brain responsible for processing sound, language development, speech perception, and reading skills, according to initial results of a five-year study by USC neuroscientists.”
How can you use this to bond with your child? Music is very appealing to children, and when you’re in the car listening to music, they are too. In my experience, many children would come into my classroom and sing lyrics from songs their parents listen to. They memorize the words verbatim. It’s astounding how much their brains can comprehend and hold! During the car ride to school or the grocery store, ask your child what he or she wants to listen to. It’ll make them feel important and create that stronger bond.
You can also set out pots and pans in the kitchen and make music using nonmusical instruments. This will create a sense of ownership with their music, and doing it with you will create an amazing core memory they won’t forget. The key is to have fun and enjoy the presence of your child and really appreciate what they bring to the table when creating music.
Art is especially important when a child is first developing in their early years. According to Pennsylvania State University, “Research shows that art activities develop brain capacity in early childhood. Art engages children’s senses in open-ended play and supports the development of cognitive, social-emotional, and multisensory skills. The reason that it’s so important is because it encourages creativity, helps develop cognitive skills, and offers opportunities for self-expression.” All of these things are important to children and they will let you know. During my time as a teacher, I taught art classes because I understood my passion for art and I wanted to share that with the children. I found that many of the children and I bonded during art class because we were both in tune with their work and its progress.
There are many ways you can create art with your child, it depends on what you have available and how much space you have. Many parents are afraid of messes and therefore avoid art but there is no way to not make a mess during an art session. Embrace the mess and get started with your child. Many children love to paint and play with water. Coloring papers with food coloring and a wet paintbrush can really stimulate the children. When they are doing their piece of art, comment on the colors and positions of the paint swatches.
Children are very observant and appreciate it when you acknowledge their hard work. This will in turn help you bond with your child.
This article has explored the various ways that you can bond with your child using art, music, and literature. The key to understanding why this is so important is to look at the way your child is developing. Not only will you be proud of them, but they will be proud of themselves.
As a teacher, I understood the importance of these subjects because it was my job, but there must be a passion for these subjects as well. Art helped me connect with my students in a way that was both special for me and the child. Something important that I learned during my years as a teacher is that it’s essential to understand that the process of learning and creating is more important than the product. It’s great that your child accomplishes something, but it’s even more special when you recognize the steps it took to get there. I encourage parents and teachers alike to think about these subjects, not as something that children like, but as something that children need in order to grow. What is something you do with your child to bond and connect with them?
