There’s no denying that arts and crafts are one of the most exciting things to do with kids! But let’s address this elephant in OUR room – is it actually beneficial for them? As for kids aged 3 – 8 years, experts explain that it is one of the most important ways to help your kids grow and develop. This also explains why they do so much of it at kindergarten and primary school!
“Art must be life — it must belong to everybody.”
~Marina Abramović
Without further ado, here are six crucial reasons why arts and crafts are crucial for your child’s development:
Fine Motor Skills in a child’s development refer to the physical and small movements in areas such as the hands, wrists, fingers, feet, and toes, and these, in turn, strengthen the child’s bones and muscles as well as the ability to move and touch their surroundings.
When kids use their hands and fingers to engage in arts and crafts activities, they develop their fine motor skills using those tiny muscles in their hands. This is because these projects give them the chance to learn how to grasp and control various materials such as pencils, markers, crayons, paintbrushes, and other handheld tools. Later, they will use these fine motor movements for dressing, feeding, and handwriting in school. Their coordination skills also improve as they simultaneously learn to use both hands.
And guess what? Kids enjoy these activities to the fullest.
What we love best about arts and crafts is the fact that the creative possibilities are limitless. There are simply no limits to a little one’s imagination. For kids, arts and crafts are an excellent way to turn their endless imagination into an activity more productive and creative.
The kids can choose just anything they like and prefer, be it materials, a different color pencil or marker, crayons, shapes, or activities, allowing them to explore other options and pick the most enjoyable activity as per their interest. Additionally, they might even bring to light a fun hobby, like drawing or painting, that can later become a lucrative career. Who knows?
A recent study finds that kids who paint, draw, play music, or read more often feel better about themselves. In addition, arts and crafts activities give kids a sense of achievement as they participate in their work and build confidence.
Arts and crafts raise their self-esteem and confidence and make them more intelligent. They get to discover that it’s okay to make mistakes. That at times, getting things ‘wrong’ can lead you to a whole new idea. Generally, arts and crafts should be used as a vehicle to help children develop, be creative, and feel good about themselves.
Building your child’s confidence and self-esteem is essential to helping them grow both physically and emotionally into healthy, well-rounded adults. In addition to self-esteem, these activities help them develop patience skills, which all kids need help with! As well as adults!
It is no surprise that fun activities and crafts help promote reading in toddlers and young children. Early child literacy skills include speaking and reading, listening, and understanding. For example, when kids make art or crafts, they talk about their work, developing their communication skills. Also, asking kids things like “What made you choose that color?” or “Tell me more about what you made.” helps them gain awareness of what they’re doing and communicate this awareness verbally.
Children love to learn the correct technical terms, no matter the situation, so art and craft classes are convenient for introducing some high-level vocabulary. In addition, you have the chance to teach them some new vocabulary, and they will use their listening skills when following verbal instructions.
As parents, we want our kids to start listening to us, so this is a skill we want them to grasp as early as possible.
“Go down deep enough into anything and you will find mathematics.”
~Dean Schlicter
If parents help their kids realize this fact, we can help them discover the beauty of math. For a fact, we know how daunting math can be as a subject. So why not use this as an exciting blend of explaining a relatively tricky subject like Math with the use of creative Art and Craft? In arts and crafts, kids learn about and recognize different shapes, count and sort out their art supplies and even measure out lengths and sizes of art materials.
Being a parent can be termed as one of the most challenging roles. But no matter, at the end of the day, it still boils down to the kind of relationship every parent has with their child. Since kids too love to spend time with their parents, what’s a better way than doing some arts and crafts together?
Use the crafting time to bond with your kid. You two can talk about what you are making and discuss different ideas on making other crafts—the more potent the parent-child relationship, the better the upbringing. Arts and Crafts activities help build this relationship much easier and more enjoyable!
If you are looking for various fun arts and crafts ideas perfect for family bonding, check out our videos.
There are many reasons why art and crafts will improve your child’s development. But we also think it’s an excellent way for every parent to spend quality time with their kids and keep them off those screens!
Also, now that you know the importance of arts and crafts to your child’s development, check out our Youtube Channel for tons of easy-to-follow DIY craft tutorials, science experiments, toy reviews, and kids’ product unboxing!
Who knows, your child might be the next Picasso?
Until next time,
Happy Crafting!