The communication skills children develop in their early years are essential for self-expression, collaboration and academic achievement. Art is a valuable tool for kids in these formative years, assisting them as they learn to express their thoughts and emotions. And while creativity and fine motor skills are correctly identified as being vital developmental benefits of artistic activities, art is equally important in nurturing a child’s ability to communicate.
How Can Art Help Children Develop Their Communication Skills?
When kids create art at home or participate in art classes at school, they have an ideal opportunity to communicate through various mediums. The following three examples illustrate how art can improve a child’s communication skills.
1. Improves Non-Verbal Expression
Helping children develop non-verbal expression supports their emotional intelligence and ability to recognize social cues. As children develop their art skills they are also strengthening their ability to convey emotions (like happiness, sadness, anger and frustration) without using words.
An advantage of introducing children to art at an early age provides them with a creative outlet for their feelings. Parents and teachers could encourage kids to reflect on their emotions and experiences, then translate these abstract concepts into visual representations. As their creative abilities develop, a child can use color, shape, texture and composition to express more complex ideas.
2. Benefits Storytelling Skills
Storytelling is important for developing creativity, imagination and language skills. By integrating storytelling with art, children learn to connect images with words and how to organize their thoughts in sequence. This process helps promote logical thinking and the ability to express complex ideas through multiple mediums.
There are many story-based art projects for kids of all ages to try. Creating a comic across a series of panels encourages a child to develop a story arc without relying primarily on words. Alternatively, starting a collage project can support telling a story with the help of found materials from various sources.
3. Enhances Vocabulary
As children’s artistic skills develop over time, set aside time to discuss their finished work. Talking about the inspiration and meaning behind a drawing or painting will help a child articulate their thoughts. This type of communication can help create the habit of thoughtfully considering what they want to convey before actually starting a future project. Such self-reflection will transfer to other areas of a child’s life as they continue to grow.
Children can also improve their vocabulary by learning about materials, techniques and concepts related to the artistic process. During art projects in the classroom and at home, it’s worthwhile to gradually introduce terms for shapes, colors and other elements of the creative process. An improved vocabulary will benefit every child across many subjects in the curriculum.
Develop Communication Skills With Free Art Lessons
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