Art is an incredible teaching tool and helps young children express their unique selves. With colorful construction paper, messy paints and molding clay, children can explore their imagination.

While other academic disciplines are rigid, art is free-flowing. This allows children to form their own ideas, make connections and take risks in a safe, fun environment. Creative learning helps open doors in the mind, setting children up for enhanced learning and showing them the value of thinking outside the box.

The enhanced cognition that creativity fosters allows children to quickly develop important skills.

• Language and Literacy
  Creative expression is a way for children to tell their own stories through drawing, painting or molding their ideas. These connections are important for later language development and advanced reading skills.
• Problem-Solving
  As your child explores different art forms and mediums, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are being honed. Art and craft projects are full of experimentation!
• Fine and Gross Motor Skills
  Manipulating pens, paints, markers, and other mediums develops your child’s fine and gross motor skills. Crafts like molding and sculpting and the use of materials such as yarn, pipe cleaners and paper mache teach dexterity, control and coordination.

Thanks to the boost in cognition and skill development that creative learning provides, children exposed to early art education exceed academically. Studies have shown that creative learning improves school performance in reading, writing, interpretation, science and math.

Art programs allow children of similar ages to meet, play, and socialize in healthy ways. Watching other children express their inner creativity and working together also leads to positive communication and empathy skills. Additionally, the problem-solving skills that creativity teaches help children to solve interpersonal problems in a healthy way.

As young children learn to express their unique imagination and creativity, they gain confidence that boosts their self-esteem. Kidcreate Studio - Wilmington always sends children home with "fridge-worthy" masterpieces so they can show off their artwork to family members! Sharing artwork with family members is another way that children can boost their confidence in their unique abilities.

Early art exposure enhances appreciation of the arts and cultural themes for young children. Parents can further encourage this interest with trips to museums, art galleries and theatres.

Besides all these academic benefits, the arts are enriching. The feeling you get when you look at your favorite painting or read a book by your favorite author? These are just two examples of how art can change a life for the better. Creative learning and art education from an early age can set the stage for children to lead happier, healthier lives.