Make the Mess – Why doing art benefits children

Ever wonder if it’s worth the time and effort to pull out art supplies—paint, glue, paper scraps, sequins, pompoms and markers? Getting creative often makes a big mess. It’s probably easier to forgo the hassle, but when kids dive into art projects, they’re doing much more than making memories. Art has positive effects on children physically and mentally—and as a teacher and parent, I have seen the benefits firsthand. To gain more insight, I interviewed Michelle Renfrow, a licensed professional counselor and owner of Colorful Creations Art. Following are some of the benefits of engaging in art:

Helps children express themselves. Even the youngest children can express themselves through art. It gives them

a way to communicate that is not dependent upon ability to speak or vocabulary level. Through art, children can use different media to explore selfexpression in creative ways.

Encourages creative problem-solving. How much glue is too much? Will a glue stick or white glue work better on felt? Children doing art are constantly problem solving.

“By allowing children to explore different materials, techniques and ideas, they are able to look at problems from different perspectives, helping them find solutions to difficult problems,” says Renfrow.

Builds social skills and collaboration. Children love collaborating on art projects and as they do, they experience

the back and forth common to a joint project. Whether they ask each other’s advice or give it unsolicited, they experience what it’s like to work with others, share ideas, even negotiate.

Boosts confidence. This depends on how adults respond to the artwork. “You should never ask, ‘What is that?’ when looking at a child’s art,” says Renfrow. “Children assume you see their art the same way they do, and when you cannot see it, they can be discouraged. Instead, try to identify concrete things like the colors you see. Once they tell you the story, you can reflect on things like feelings and emotions. For example, if the child says the picture is a girl in a closet, ask how the girl is feeling and get more information.”

Builds fine and gross motor skills. Whether it’s gripping a button or paint brush or using scissors, children engage specific muscles as they create. Working with small objects such as sequins or beads also helps foster fine motor skills. Painting kids’ feet and letting them tromp across a large piece of butcher paper exercises gross motor skills.

Builds prewriting skills. Children use crayons and markers to make shapes on paper long before they are able to produce letters. Drawing circles, curves and lines is the foundation for forming letters.

Helps kids understand themselves. “Artwork helps children better understand themselves and their feelings,” says Renfrow. “By creating artwork, children can explore their emotions in a way that is not easily

conveyed through words. I use art therapy techniques to help younger and less verbal children communicate, process and grow.”

Helps develop spatial skills. How far apart should the eyes be on this face? Are my dog’s legs longer or shorter than her body? Children grapple with questions like this as they produce works of art, thus developing spatial skills.

Increases academic skills. There is a saying by Benjamin Franklin: “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” What better way to involve a child than to dive into art projects? Many of the benefits listed in this article have a profound impact on other school subjects—problem-solving skills, prewriting skills, social skills, selfexpression (and others) all support academics.

Art is fun! The best part is, creating art is fun for most children. Keep it interesting by providing different media for children to explore. You don’t have to bring out the messiest materials every day. A sheet of contact paper with small squares of colorful tissue paper provide a creative outlet opportunity when you don’t have the stamina for a big cleanup.

The benefits of encouraging children to be involved in art are undeniable. Though it can be a messy proposition, it’s important to support artistic endeavors. Among the many benefits are unique opportunities for children to learn more about themselves and their place in the world around them. v

Jill Morgenstern is a freelance writer.

Don’t have space to get creative at home? Here are local studios where kids can engage in artistic endeavors.

The Hot Spot www.thehotspotstudios.com

Little Fish Comic Book Studio www.lilfish.us