Get Creative! Exploring the Benefits of Art
If you have a child, or know one, you know that children naturally love art. You’ve probably noticed their eyes light up when given paint, crayons, or other art supplies. You may have also noticed that schools seem less able to allow time for creativity or art.
Simple creative activities are essential building blocks of child development. When learning to use a paintbrush, children work to improve their fine motor skills. By counting supplies or colors, they discover the basics of math. Experimenting with various materials involves science. Feeling good about the art they are creating builds self-confidence. And when a child feels free to experiment and make mistakes, they are free to invent new ways of thinking which extends well beyond the classroom.
It’s important to find a school which recognizes that making art and enjoying the art of other people and cultures is essential to the development of the whole child. Cranium Academy values the importance of art as a language, an important form of self-expression, and a critical tool to increase engagement and retention when integrated within other programs such as math, reading, science, and social studies.
The benefits of art include (but are not limited to):
Learning to express feelings in a safe way – Children can learn to express and handle negative as well as positive feelings through creating art.
Strengthening fine motor skills – By holding crayons and learning to control scissors and other art tools, children strengthen fine motor skills essential for writing and other activities.
Developing decision-making and problem-solving skills – How could I make this shape? What color should I use? Making art gives children various opportunities to make their own choices and decisions.
Valuing diversity and culture – Seeing that others have different points of view and ways of expressing them than they do is invaluable. Seeing other children’s artwork, as well as art from other cultures, gives children real examples of how different people express the same thing in different ways.
Encouraging innovation – When children are encouraged to create freely and take risks in creating art, they develop a sense of innovation and critical thinking that will be important in their adult lives.
Boosting self-esteem and experiencing success – Since there is no right or wrong in creating art, all children can experience a measure of success and pride in their artwork.
Practicing social skills – By sharing art supplies, cooperating to create a group project or clean up after one, creating art helps children gain valuable social skills.
Young Masterpieces in the Making at Cranium Academy
Cranium Academy teachers utilize two core art programs, along with art integration within other programs and subjects. Art highlights at Cranium Academy, including locations in Winter Garden (near Windermere) and East Orlando (near Lake Nona), include:
Preschool through elementary school curriculum meets all national art and state specific art standards.
Exploration of art history, including appreciation of art periods, styles, famous pieces and museums around the world.
All students are immersed in art projects from preschool through elementary school. Preschool students visit virtual museums through our interactive technology and create their own museums within their classrooms. Elementary students also get to experience field trips to museums and live performances within their community.
An animated interactive art program that teaches preschool and elementary school students the “language” of art while developing critical thinking.
Cranium Academy Students Use Art to Benefit Others
On January 28th and 29th, Cranium Academy of East Orlando (near Lake Nona) will be holding its inaugural Art Exhibit & Auction. Each classroom will be working together to create a unique art project for the exhibit, which parents will then be able to bid on. All funds raised will be donated to a patient at Nemours Children’s Hospital through the Be Brave Foundation.
The mission of the Be Brave Foundation is to provide financial assistance to families in Central Florida with a child battling cancer. By removing some of the financial burden associated with treating pediatric cancer, we can assist the family in focusing on their child’s care and condition. For more information on this amazing organization, visit www.bebravefoundation.org.
Cranium Academy offers a completely unique preschool through fifth grade private school experience, plus unforgettable summer camps, birthday parties, after school programs, and more! Now serving more of the Orlando area with our Winter Garden – Windermere preschool and elementary school location and our brand new East Orlando location near Lake Nona.
