Experts have long since agreed that teaching art is just as important as teaching math, science, or engineering. The application of STEAM learning is now considered essential for teaching young children. This is because art is much more than a fun activity to do in your spare time; it is a key source of self-expression among kids. But why is art so important and how exactly it works?
Why Is Self Expression So Important?
Self-expression is vital in the early development and self-confidence of young students. Self-expression allows kids to use their imagination and creative thinking to produce new understandings and look at the world from new perspectives. It further allows them to communicate their individuality, true feelings, and emotions.
Of course, self-expression can take many forms; art is one of the most popular creative outlets that allow children to unwind, relax, and be grounded in the present.
Children who are not very self-expressive early on can go on to be socially awkward, easily influenced, and under-confident. Such attributes will take away your child’s ability to proactively step up in the face of future opportunities.
Moreover, individuals (young and old alike) with the freedom and confidence to express themselves experience better mental health, form healthy connections with others and have a more positive outlook on life.
How Self-Expression Flourishes With Creative Art?
Children are given tools they can manipulate, construct and transform to create their desired form of art. Usually, STEM based education tries to take on factual learning, but art takes a different approach. Art teaches that there are several approaches you can take to your final finished art piece. There is always another way you can complete your project.
Art is simply a never ending set of opportunities that allows you to make choices about your next stroke. As your child sits down for an art session, he makes decisions, processes his current work, evaluates decisions, and analyzes results. Such children also learn to be more flexible, creative, and confident in their decisions. In short, STEAM education widens the scope of traditional skillset.
How to Apply This in Art Teaching?
As we move on to teaching young minds, we must present them with new ideas, mediums, and art forms that encourage healthy self-expression.
Even kids who are not creative should be provided with an environment where they can express themselves freely without fear of being shunned. STEAM education is one way to ensure that. After all, art is not about creating something perfect or exceptionally beautiful. It is meant to be a tool that children and young people can use to express themselves.
There are many ways to promote artistic expression. Having children work with colors, paints, and sketching is one way. Other methods include teaching construction using wooden bricks, model cars, and LEGOS, helping children in blogging, journaling, or keeping a diary, offering them collage materials and clay to shape items on their own, or even helping them choose the colors and styles of clothing they want to wear are all healthy forms of self-expression.
What’s important here is never to impose your own choices on a child’s state of expression.
Final Thoughts!
Art is known for aiding the development of fine motor skills, critical and creative thinking, and problem-solving. At the same time, it is central to developing healthy self-expression. Children must be provided with the comfort, support, and creative outlets they need to express themselves freely and art may be the very thing they need!