Arts and crafts are such fun activities for children. They can sit for hours in one corner, making figures out clay, drawing pictures of favorite cartoon characters, building dollhouses from paper and cardboard, and all sorts of things that help them make use of their imagination and creative skills. The quality time bonding gratifies parents who involve themselves in these activities whenever they can with their children as they create works of art. But more than keeping children happily distracted, these activities can do so much more when it comes to your child’s physical and mental development. This is the reason why it is encouraged, not only to keep them busy but to help them benefit from it, health-wise.
Take a look at some of the wonderful benefits that arts and crafts can offer your child.
Development of a child’s motor skills
Children are typically clumsy at a very young age, with fingers that are not yet used to dealing with more complex details. As a child begins to use crayons for drawing or uses their fingers to mold figures from clay, their fingers start getting used to these materials and hold them correctly to achieve the results they want. Because of their fingers’ constant use, motor skills are developed, and muscle strength is improved. These skills are essential in a child’s development, which is enhanced even more as they get older.
Boosts self-confidence
When children can complete a project and produce something beautiful, they feel a sense of pride from the accomplishment. Just like adults who have achieved a goal and feel good about it, a child has the same feeling of fulfillment from work that has been well done. Their social skills are improved, especially when they are around other children creating art and sharing the same interest.
Encourages self-expression
Children can express themselves better through arts and crafts. More often than not, parents can discover more about how their children feel or what they re thinking through the artwork they make. They use their imagination and become creative, coming up with their unique work. They can vent out frustrations and help release stress more productively. What may be difficult to put into words can be better expressed through art.
Teaches them how to make decisions
When children are involved in arts and crafts, they are in control. They decide what medium they are using, how the finished product should look like, the colors they want, or the subject for a painting or drawing. No one is there to tell them what to do. At a young age, a child is already taught about making decisions and the outcome of their choices. This will be valuable in the future when they need to start making choices for themselves.
The arts and crafts world has always been enjoyed by both the young and the old. It is a way to relieve us from everyday stress and keep us happily productive during our downtime. As children, it is the best way to use imagination and learn valuable lessons along the way.
Photo Attribution:
1st and featured image from https://www.pexels.com/photo/mother-and-son-painting-4039153/
2nd image from https://childdevelopment.com.au/areas-of-concern/fine-motor-skills/
