Art is one of the most transformative subjects that you can learn in schools. Many skeptics see it as frivolous because most people think that art is just a hobby, but you could say that fractions are just a hobby too. There are certain things in school that you do not use every day. Art is actually something that you will use every day, even if that is not strictly in the form of drawing and doodling.
There are so many great reasons to start learning art early, but here are just 5 of those reasons why you should add art lessons into your homeschool curriculum.
- Encourages Self-Expression
There are no right answers or wrong answers in art. There are so many different ways that you can move someone that your way is going to be entirely different than someone else’s. Your art is like yourself, made up of a combination of life experiences and genetics that dictate the types of thing that you are putting out. The best part of that is that finding your unique voice in arts allows you to express your individuality and connect with people far deeper than before.
We are not saying that you are going to find your Picasso-like talent in kindergarten, but starting this young can get you on the track to become more advanced in your teenage years and potentially reach expert levels when you get to college and beyond. Finding your voice can take a whole lifetime, so it is best to start as early as possible.
- Promotes Healthy Self Esteem and a Sense of Accomplishment
There are not a lot of ways to see concrete successes when you are this age. There are not really going to be math tests or other things where you get a good grade that can show off your hard work and accomplishment. The one way that you can compete with your older siblings for space up on the refrigerator is through the art that you make.
Schools do a great job of making parents eat up all of the terrible art that their kids make. I heard from a new parent that their one year old’s art was sold by the school. You had to pay $60 to go to the event and an additional price to buy your child’s “art.” That kind of rip-off is crazy, but you can save all of that money by making your own decisions on what makes the fridge. Seeing your art up on the fridge is a validating experience that inspires confidence at this young age.
- Improve Your Brain Function
A lot of people think that you improve brain function by stuffing your head with facts, but our brains are much more elastic than you think and you will respond well to making new connections that you have never made before.
The best way to improve the brain is through making neurotransmitter connections and that comes through combining the skills from both sides of the brain. Art lessons have been shown to improve brain plasticity and increase blood flow to the brain, which is sure to help improve your function. Through art, you can develop in ways that you might not have expected.
- Reduce Stress
One of the simple benefits of art is that it is a really easy outlet to let out some stress. You might put your feelings into the content that you draw or you might just let your mind wander and follow whatever your heart wants to draw. Simply sitting down with a pencil and a piece of paper, you can let out everything that is on your mind without having to dwell on negative thoughts. So often, art, even though doodling, is a way that people distract their hands to let their mind focus on what is important. Art can even be a form of meditation to some.
- Encourages Creative Thinking
Drawing forces you to enter your mind and start thinking outside of the box. If you are working on something without any reference, you must enter your mind and think of how to translate images in your brain onto the page. Even if you are working with reference, you have to calculate space and dimensions to make sure that you are not drawing some monstrosity. Art makes you really think.
Art is one of the most important subjects that you learn in school, just as much as math, English, science, social studies, or anything else that you would learn. It also gives you an outlet to reduce your stress levels.
In homeschooling, art is important to remember that art can’t be neglected. It has the power to let you express yourself in ways beyond what you are capable with words, that helps to develop and improve your self-esteem. You will also improve your brain function, especially because of all of the critical thinking that is involved.
There are many benefits to art, more than just these 5, so you should always remember art in your homeschool curriculum.
