Educatie Arta

How Arts Benefit Child Development {12 Surprising Studies} about:reader?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwetheparents.org%2Fbenefits-of-...
wetheparents.org
How Arts Benefit Child Development

{12 Surprising Studies}
12-16 minutes
Naturally creative and ambitious, many kids take to the arts like fish
to water, quickly finding a niche and evolving their skills.
Others simply enjoy the self-expression found at the arts and crafts
table, achieving mindfulness and finding self-esteem in the act of
creating something of their own.
Creating art doesn’t just feel good, it does good. Science has linked
the arts with numerous physical, social, and cognitive benefits for
kids, so the time they spend singing, dancing, painting, drawing,
acting, and engaging in other creative activities, actively contributes
to their whole-child development.
Let’s dive in!
The Infographic
1 of 14 9/5/2022, 10:58 AM
2 of 14 9/5/2022, 10:58 AM
3 of 14 9/5/2022, 10:58 AM
4 of 14 9/5/2022, 10:58 AM
5 of 14 9/5/2022, 10:58 AM
6 of 14 9/5/2022, 10:58 AM
The Arts and child development: examining the

evidence
This collection of 12 studies connects art, music, drama, and

creative movement with physical, cognitive, creative, and social
benefits which may positively impact child development.
Imagination, creativity, and experimentation
1. Encourages self-expression through creative storytelling
Storytelling play offers children a unique opportunity to share their

thoughts, feelings, and perspectives, inspiring them to express
them in a creative, meaningful way.
One of the reasons that roleplay is an important part of child

development is that kids express themselves and learn to process
and regulate emotions through dramatic play.
In Goodman’s naturalistic study of the relationship between

dramatic play and literacy development, theatre-style play was
identified as a source of creative motivation.
When children act out their stories during dramatic theatre-style

play, they use imagination, creativity, and self-expression in the
creation of their narratives.
Key study/paper: Goodman, Jennifer Ross. “A naturalistic study of

the relationship between literacy development and dramatic play in
five-year-old children.” Unpublished EdD dissertation. Nashville,
TN: George Peabody College for Teachers, Vanderbilt University
(1990).
Source: artsedsearch.org/study/naturalistic-study/
2. Increases arts engagement in young ddulthood
Remaining in arts education throughout primary and secondary
7 of 14 9/5/2022, 10:58 AM
school can provide numerous benefits for children, including

greater academic achievement, higher self-esteem, and improved
critical-thinking skills, among others.
An early start in the arts can impact the level to which older kids
and teens engage with arts education. When young children are
given opportunities to participate in the arts, their interest is likely to
carry over into their scholastic career.
Longitudinal studies have discovered that participation in the arts

during early childhood is a predictor of greater arts education
engagement during primary and secondary school.
Key study/paper: Foster, E. Michael, and Jade V. Marcus Jenkins.

“Does participation in music and performing arts influence child
development?.” American Educational Research Journal 54.3
(2017): 399-443.
Source: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/
Social interaction
3. Boosts self esteem
Developing and maintaining healthy self-esteem can be a challenge

for some kids, as fitting in socially, keeping up with academics, and
coping with growing up can all impact a child’s self-image.
Finding hobbies that keep them engaged and focused on self-

development can help to mitigate some of those negative self-
views.
Disadvantaged children, who may lack the role models and

structure necessary to reinforce strong self-esteem, are particularly
likely to benefit from engaging with the arts.
In a study measuring the effects of music performance and therapy

on efficacy and self-esteem, a group of disadvantaged teens taking
guitar lessons demonstrated marked improvements in self-esteem
8 of 14 9/5/2022, 10:58 AM
and efficacy after four months of training.
Key study/paper: Kennedy, Roy. The effects of musical

performance, rational emotive therapy, and vicarious experience on
the self-efficacy and self-esteem of juvenile delinquents and
disadvantaged children. Diss. University of Kansas, Music and
Dance, 1998.
Source: artsedsearch.org/study/the-effects-of-musical-performance
4. Raises confidence and tolerance of others
Treating others with tolerance is an important lesson, and one that’s

best learned early.
Engaging with different kinds of people, and in different settings,

helps kids create a broader “normal” that acknowledges the
experiences and voices of people from ethnicities, sexualities, and
classes other than their own.
Engagement with the arts is another way that children can become
more confident in themselves and more tolerant of others.
Adolescent participation in dance education has been linked with

significant improvements in a child’s confidence, tolerance, and
persistence.
Key study/paper: Ross, Janice. “Art and community: Creating

knowledge through service in dance.” Comunicació presentada
American Educational Research Association, New Orleans.
Recuperat de: www. artsedsearch. org/summaries/art-and-
community-creating-knowledge-through-servicein-dance (2000).
Source: artsedsearch.org/study/art-and-community
Expressive qualities
5. Greater likelihood of ongoing participation in creative arts
Artistic hobbies can become productive, meditative, and even
9 of 14 9/5/2022, 10:58 AM
lucrative, the passion that fuels them often beginning with early
childhood engagement with the arts.
When children get to experience art, music, and dance, they can
develop a lifelong interest that will contribute to their well-being in
numerous ways.
A study assessing the correlation between participation in music

and the performing arts with child development opportunities has
revealed that an inclination toward self-directed artistic pursuits
may be boosted by music education during childhood.
Children who have music lessons during their early and middle
childhood are more likely to engage in self-directed creative arts as
young adults.
Key study/paper: Foster, E. Michael, and Jade V. Marcus Jenkins.

“Does participation in music and performing arts influence child
development?.” American Educational Research Journal 54.3
(2017): 399-443.
Source: artsedsearch.org/study/participation-in-music
6. Predicts perseverance in specific art training
If your child is keen to continue with their music, art, or dance

lessons, science demonstrates that this might last them well into
their teen years and beyond.
An early start in the study of a creative hobby can contribute to a

child’s self-esteem and academic achievement, and also help them
continue pursuing their skill of choice in earnest.
A study assessing the creative development of young studio-taught

artists determined that the more time a child spends studying a
creative pursuit, the more willing they’ll be to pursue it.
A direct correlation is shown between the number of years children

spend in arts education and their willingness to continue pursuing
their skill of choice.
Key study/paper: Rostan, Susan M. “Studio learning: Motivation,

competence, and the development of young art students’ talent and
creativity.” Creativity Research Journal 22.3 (2010): 261-271.
Source: artsedsearch.org/study/studio-learning-motivation
10 of 14 9/5/2022, 10:58 AM
Problem-solving skills
7. Provides opportunities to use abstract thought
Often, life provides us with problems that require thinking outside of

the box.
This kind of creative thinking, often called abstract thought, comes

more naturally to some than others. Engagement with the arts is
linked with improvements in this area.
A study assessing the academic and social development of

students pursuing arts education discovered that participation in
dance classes helped teens to improve their creative thinking.
Measurements of novel ideas and abstract thinking in teenage

dance-education participants linked their experience with boosts in
creative and abstract thinking.
Key study/paper: Deasy, Richard J. Critical links: Learning in the

arts and student academic and social development. Arts Education
Partnership, One Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 700, Washington,
DC 20001-1431. Web site: http://www. aep-arts. org/., 2002.
Source: govinfo.gov/content/pkg/ERIC-ED466413
8. Teaches critical thinking skills
The use of logic, inductive and deductive reasoning to solve

problems is called critical thinking, and its development is often
linked to mathematical and scientific pursuits.
These aren’t the only ways to flex the brain’s metaphorical muscles,
however, as the study of arts is also linked to improved critical
thinking.
In an assessment of the link between the arts and student

development, a correlation was clearly made between dance
education and improvements to critical thinking skills.
11 of 14 9/5/2022, 10:58 AM
In the study, seventh-grade girls attending eight weeks of dance

instruction, with no prior experience, demonstrated significant gains
in critical thinking ability compared to a control group.
Key study/paper: Deasy, Richard J. Critical links: Learning in the

arts and student academic and social development. Arts Education
Partnership, One Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 700, Washington,
DC 20001-1431. Web site: http://www. aep-arts. org/., 2002.
Source: govinfo.gov/content/pkg/ERIC-ED466413
Physical development
9. Improves gross motor skills
Gross motor skills, which refer to the ability to coordinate full-body

movements, are refined through physical activity.
Dancing, tumbling, hopping, stretching, and other exercises using

the whole body, help to develop these abilities, and also improve
balance and proprioception.
The development of gross motor skills is dependent on movement,

and, as one 2004 study has illustrated, engaging in creative motion
on a regular basis can give preschoolers an edge in building these
important skills.
Preschoolers who participated in a creative movement program

scored significantly higher in gross motor skill capability than their
non-participant counterparts.
Key study/paper: Wang, Joanne Hui-Tzu. “A study on gross motor

skills of preschool children.” Journal of research in childhood
education (2004): 32-43.
Source: tandfonline.com/doi/abs
10. Refines balance and sensory-motor synchronization
Though young children aren’t always steady on their feet at first,
12 of 14 9/5/2022, 10:58 AM
they naturally get better through repeated effort.
The same is true of balance, coordination, and proprioception;

opportunities to practice coordinated whole-body physical activities
help children to improve these skills.
Dance is one such activity, and science has linked the study of
dance to improvements in balance and sensory-motor
synchronization.
When measuring the outcome of an eight-week dance program on

preschool children, significant gains in sensory-motor
synchronization and balance were seen in participants when
compared to a control group.
Key study/paper: Chatzihidiroglou, Panagiota, et al. “Dancing

effects on preschoolers’ sensorimotor synchronization, balance,
and movement reaction time.” Perceptual and motor skills 125.3
(2018): 463-477.
Source: artsedsearch.org/study/dancing-effects-on-preschoolers
Cognitive development
11. Boosts academic achievement
Hitting the books and staying focused in class are well-worn routes
to academic achievement, but they’re not the only paths to
success.
In addition to contributing towards sound mental health, creative

pursuits have been found to improve academic performance.
Participating in arts education has a well-rounded, positive impact
on academic achievement, per one 1997 study.
In an assessment of the correlation between participation in arts

and academic achievement in eighth and tenth-grade students,
students with high levels of arts participation outscored others in all
areas of academic achievement.
13 of 14 9/5/2022, 10:58 AM
Key study/paper: Catterall, James S. Involvement in the arts and

success in secondary school. Americans for the Arts, 1997.
Source: artsedsearch.org/study/involvement-in-the-arts/
12. Expands the use of literary skills
When children tell stories while playing, they’re using the

vocabulary, comprehension, and pronunciation aspects of their
literary skills, giving them an opportunity to expand their use of
language.
Because this kind of play isn’t being graded or assessed, kids are
more comfortable trying to expand these skills by using new words
and phrases.
A study of the relationship between literacy development and

dramatic play in five-year-old children determined that the
opportunity to tell and act out stories provides young children with a
fun, engaging, and low-risk way of expanding their literacy skills.
Key study/paper: Goodman, Jennifer Ross. “A naturalistic study of

the relationship between literacy development and dramatic play in
five-year-old children.” Unpublished EdD dissertation. Nashville,
TN: George Peabody College for Teachers, Vanderbilt University
(1990).
Source: artsedsearch.org/study/naturalistic-study/
Take away
When it comes to whole-child development, participation in the arts

is invaluable.
While drawing and painting contribute towards creative thought and

fine motor skills, balance, coordination, and gross motor abilities
can be refined through dance and music.
So, being connected with the arts is academically beneficial,

prompting kids to feel better about themselves and more tolerant of
others. There’s just no shortage of ways the arts can help kids grow
physically, mentally, and creatively!
14 of 14 9/5/2022, 10:58 AM

Educatie Arta

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Educatie Arta

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

How Arts Benefit Child Development {12 Surprising Studies} about:reader?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwetheparents.org%2Fbenefits-of-...

How Arts Benefit Child Development

Let’s dive in!

The Arts and child development: examining the

This collection of 12 studies connects art, music, drama, and

Imagination, creativity, and experimentation

1. Encourages self-expression through creative storytelling

Storytelling play offers children a unique opportunity to share their

One of the reasons that roleplay is an important part of child

In Goodman’s naturalistic study of the relationship between

When children act out their stories during dramatic theatre-style

Key study/paper: Goodman, Jennifer Ross. “A naturalistic study of

2. Increases arts engagement in young ddulthood

Remaining in arts education throughout primary and secondary

school can provide numerous benefits for children, including

Longitudinal studies have discovered that participation in the arts

Key study/paper: Foster, E. Michael, and Jade V. Marcus Jenkins.

3. Boosts self esteem

Developing and maintaining healthy self-esteem can be a challenge

Finding hobbies that keep them engaged and focused on self-

Disadvantaged children, who may lack the role models and

In a study measuring the effects of music performance and therapy

and efficacy after four months of training.

Key study/paper: Kennedy, Roy. The effects of musical

4. Raises confidence and tolerance of others

Treating others with tolerance is an important lesson, and one that’s

Engaging with different kinds of people, and in different settings,

Adolescent participation in dance education has been linked with

Key study/paper: Ross, Janice. “Art and community: Creating

5. Greater likelihood of ongoing participation in creative arts

Artistic hobbies can become productive, meditative, and even

A study assessing the correlation between participation in music

Key study/paper: Foster, E. Michael, and Jade V. Marcus Jenkins.

6. Predicts perseverance in specific art training

If your child is keen to continue with their music, art, or dance

An early start in the study of a creative hobby can contribute to a

A study assessing the creative development of young studio-taught

A direct correlation is shown between the number of years children

Key study/paper: Rostan, Susan M. “Studio learning: Motivation,

7. Provides opportunities to use abstract thought

Often, life provides us with problems that require thinking outside of

This kind of creative thinking, often called abstract thought, comes

A study assessing the academic and social development of

Measurements of novel ideas and abstract thinking in teenage

Key study/paper: Deasy, Richard J. Critical links: Learning in the

8. Teaches critical thinking skills

The use of logic, inductive and deductive reasoning to solve

In an assessment of the link between the arts and student

In the study, seventh-grade girls attending eight weeks of dance

Key study/paper: Deasy, Richard J. Critical links: Learning in the

9. Improves gross motor skills

Gross motor skills, which refer to the ability to coordinate full-body

Dancing, tumbling, hopping, stretching, and other exercises using

The development of gross motor skills is dependent on movement,

Preschoolers who participated in a creative movement program

Key study/paper: Wang, Joanne Hui-Tzu. “A study on gross motor

10. Refines balance and sensory-motor synchronization

Though young children aren’t always steady on their feet at first,

they naturally get better through repeated effort.

The same is true of balance, coordination, and proprioception;

When measuring the outcome of an eight-week dance program on

Key study/paper: Chatzihidiroglou, Panagiota, et al. “Dancing