Not all kids in this world are born to be artists. Not all kids are born to be athletes or anything else for that matter. Most of us just seem to have been born and based on random events in our lives, we make decisions and become this, that, or the other. But I’d like for you to think back to a time when you were just exploring your creative side. Do you feel joy? Or Freedom?
For me, I realized how much I missed art in my life when I was on a trip with friends and one person had that genius idea to bring mini canvases and paints for everyone. I started to throw colors on the canvas and time seemed to lose all meaning. I'm not saying that every one of us is meant to be artists, but I am saying that a lot of us lose our creative outlets when we start to grow and lose sight of the goal, of having fun.
In the US most of our school systems have gotten rid of art programs which is a shame because the arts have many benefits for childhood development. Because the schools have forgotten about creativity, it falls on us adults to inspire and support kids with their artistic expressions. In this blog, I will be talking about 5 benefits of supporting young artists.
1. Fostering Creativity and Innovation
The purpose of art is to express a feeling or emotion. It is usually to create something this world has never seen. The best part is that the arts allow our brains to believe we can create something from nothing and that translates to every area of our lives. So kids who are supported in their creative journeys become adults who are more Creative and Innovative, even if they don’t become professional artists.
2. Boosting Confidence and Self-esteem
When you’re a kid, the arts are generally low-risk ways of putting yourself out there. With every drawing that is made, kids are looking for feedback and analyzing your reaction. When the grown-ups show support to these budding creatives, kids build their confidence and self-esteem which can result in their willingness to pursue passions and ideas later in life. Not every piece of art will be a masterpiece but by showing interest and encouraging kids, we foster an environment of growth and exploration that translates perfectly to adulthood.
3. Enhancing Academic Performance
You might be thinking, what do arts have to do with Academics? Well, kids supported in their art tend to show greater abilities to problem solve, think critically, and focus, all skills required for excelling in academia. Have you ever been so focused on a problem that you can’t solve it and then as you’re cleaning the kitchen or doing something else the solution comes to you? Arts serve a similar purpose as well. They allow a different part of the brain to activate allowing room for different connections to form.
4. Building Community and Social Connections
Art is about fun; the best memories and connections happen when you’re having fun. Think back to summer camps, dance classes, vacations, or even sports teams. When you’re having fun the people around you become lifelong friends. From the age of 7-9, kids begin to seek community from friends more than from family. At this time, they’re also eagerly looking to collaborate with others to build connections. Art is the perfect hobby or activity to help do that.
5. Providing Emotional Outlet and Mental Health Benefits
You may have heard of the mental health epidemic young people in the US are experiencing. A lot of it comes down to a lack of social connection but also a lack of expressive outlets. Kids art is a great tool that allows kids the ability to express themselves. It also gives them a platform to talk about their creation and why they created it rather than directly facing a subject that might be too intense to face head-on.
Art has so many benefits for young people, but not enough young people have access to it. I believe that the easiest way to get kids back into the arts is to support the arts in schools. Having a dedicated period of time for artistic expression is crucial to the development of our kids. If we want a society with great adults, we need to start by nurturing all of our kids. At nxtgenart, we are hoping we can be a platform that provides kids with a tool to build confidence and self-esteem through the expression of art. We do this by taking their art and putting it on clothing to showcase their work to the world. We hope you will join us in supporting our amazing artist on their path to becoming amazing grownups.
