A well-rounded education is unarguably an important part of childhood development. While math, science, and reading courses get due credit for conveying important knowledge, the benefits of arts education are often overlooked — and the result is a reduction in time and funding devoted to arts education within the curriculum.
It's this important knowledge that's the driving force behind National Arts in Education Week, taking place this year from Sept. 13-19. The event, which takes place each September, encourages teachers, students, parents, and caregivers to engage by participating, celebrating, advocating for, and supporting arts and arts education. The campaign's website is full of helpful information, including a packet on how to partner with National Arts in Education Week to create an official event.
A few choice benefits:
- Struggling with self-esteem is a common issue when children are finding themselves socially, but one study demonstrated that participation in arts education encourages improvement of self-view.
- Quick thinking in school and beyond relates to cognitive ability. Though science and math are often given more credit for boosting this ability, skill at interpreting artwork has been scientifically correlated with the ability to grasp scientific imagery.
- Stress, anxiety, and depression can be just as pervasive and debilitating for children as they can be for adults. Music classes are a branch of arts education, and the singing and dancing that happens therein has been linked to mitigation of anxious, depressed, and aggressive feelings in kids.
- Though more traditional academic curriculum often takes credit for raising academic achievement, studies performed by Carnegie Hall and Stanford University have revealed that participating in arts-related activities quadrupled a child's chances at being academically recognized.
When children attend art class, they're not just mastering new techniques and learning about the important cultural components of art history, they're also being introduced to a new set of skills and concepts. Science demonstrates that arts education can play a positive role in cognitive development, establishment of character, overall happiness, social skills, academic performance, and even physical development — the benefits are so robust that this visualization by We The Parents details a full 51 ways children are positively impacted by arts education.
Infographic courtesy We The Parents
