Have you ever considered that simply picking up a paintbrush or doodling on a piece of paper could make your child smarter? It may sound far-fetched, but recent studies have shown that incorporating art into a child's routine can have a significant impact on their academic success. In this post, we'll delve into the power of art in academic achievement. From building a foundation for learning to improving memory and retention, we'll explore how creating art can benefit your child's academic journey in a fun and engaging way. So, whether your child is a budding artist or simply loves to color, read on to discover the surprising benefits of incorporating art into their daily routine.

Art Can Make You Smarter

Studies have shown that incorporating art into a child's routine can make them smarter. In fact, creating art has been linked to improved academic success in various subjects, including math, science, and language arts. But how exactly does art build a foundation for academic achievement? Let's explore this further.

How Art Builds a Foundation for Academic Achievement

Studies have shown that incorporating art into a child's routine can boost academic success. The act of creating art stimulates the brain in a unique way, developing cognitive and motor skills that are essential for academic achievement. Involvement in artistic activities promotes imagination, creativity, and critical thinking, all of which are key components of academic success. 

In addition, working on a piece of art requires patience, focus, and attention to detail, which are crucial skills for students to succeed in any subject. Engaging in artistic activities also instills a sense of discipline and dedication in students, which can carry over to their academic work.

Art can serve as a means of self-expression and emotional regulation. When students are able to express their emotions through art, they are better equipped to manage stress and anxiety, which can interfere with learning. By helping to regulate emotions, art can provide a solid foundation for academic achievement.

Connections Between Creating and Improved Memory

Studies have shown that making art can improve memory and retention. When creating art, students are using multiple regions of their brain, including those associated with perception, motor skills, and creativity. This multi-sensory experience can help to cement knowledge in a student's memory. Creating art can also improve a student's ability to recall information by activating areas of the brain that are associated with memory and learning.

Incorporating art into academic subjects can help students to better understand and retain complex information. The act of creating something visual can also help to solidify the connection between information and memory, making it easier to retrieve later on.

By improving memory and retention, art can also have a positive impact on overall academic achievement. The ability to recall information more easily and accurately can lead to better test scores and a deeper understanding of subject matter.

Boosting Confidence and Self-Esteem with Art

Creating art can do more than just help improve academic performance - it can also help boost confidence and self-esteem. When a student takes the time to create something, whether it's a drawing, painting, or sculpture, they are giving themselves a chance to express their creativity and showcase their abilities. Over time, as they continue to hone their skills and create new pieces, they’ll likely find that their confidence in their artistic abilities grows.

Increased Emotional Intelligence

Another benefit of creating art that can contribute to academic success is the increase in emotional intelligence that often accompanies it. Emotional intelligence, or the ability to recognize and manage emotions, is a crucial skill for success in both personal and academic settings.

When a student engages in art-making, they are often encouraged to connect with their emotions and express them in a safe and creative way. This can help them develop a greater understanding of their own emotions and those of others, leading to increased empathy and better social skills.

Incorporating Art into Your Child's Routine

One of the most effective ways to incorporate art into a child's routine is to set aside time for creative expression. This can be as simple as dedicating half an hour each day for drawing, painting, or sculpting. Parents can also provide a designated space for their child to create, whether it's a corner of their bedroom or a table in the living room.

Parents can encourage their child to explore different art forms and techniques. This can involve taking them to art museums, enrolling them in online art classes, or simply providing them with a variety of art supplies to experiment with. By exposing children to different forms of art, parents can help expand their child's creativity and inspire them to create new things.

Another powerful way to incorporate art into a child's routine is to use it as a tool to reduce stress and manage emotions. Parents can encourage their child to create art when they are feeling overwhelmed or anxious about school. This can be a calming and therapeutic activity that helps children relax and process their emotions.

By incorporating art into their child's routine, parents can help their child develop important skills that will serve them well in both academia and personal relationships. Whether it's promoting emotional intelligence or expanding creativity, art has the power to positively impact a child's life in countless ways.

Incorporating art into your child's life is not only fun, but it also has the potential to improve their academic performance. From building a foundation for learning to boosting confidence and increasing emotional intelligence, the benefits of art are numerous. As parents, we should encourage our children to doodle, paint, or draw, and watch as they thrive academically and personally. In the words of Pablo Picasso, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." Let's help our children remain artists and flourish in all areas of their lives.