Page 2 - TL Extra Feb 2017

2TT • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2017 EXTRA ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE TRI-LAKES EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
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Art forms such as dancing can engage children in various senses to help wire the brain.
Dianne Roberts, owner of Dianne Roberts Art Studio, said she believes studying art provides many crucial benefits to children.
“A child’s brain structure is influenced significantly by their environment and expe- riences during the first few years of life,” she said. “I feel that visual art is an important part of our community, school and everyday life. Childhood is the time to develop interest, skills and aptitudes that will last a lifetime through mean- ingful art.”
Art helps to wire the brain
The AASA noted that espe- cially young children spend much of their time playing and that play often includes forms of art such as singing, draw- ing and dancing. These artistic activities engage various senses and help to wire the brain so it can learn. As children age, these seemingly basic activi- ties remain essential for young brains.
In addition to the AASA’s findings, the Arkansas Art Education Association stated, “The arts are exercise for the brain. Scientific studies prove that 30 minutes a day with a creative activity builds den- drites, or brain connectors.”
David Warren, associate professor of printmaking and art education at Henderson State University in Arkadel- phia, agreed with the AAEA statement and gave a couple of examples.
“The arts engage multiple parts of the mind,” he said. “Ask a student who has created a blind contour drawing how they gain access to another part of the brain. Once an art- ist practices looking more at the subject than the piece of paper, they have linked the eye directly to the hand by access- ing an otherwise unused area of the brain.”
Art helps children develop motor skills
Dancing and other move- ments that might be prompted by exposure to art help chil- dren develop motor skills. Motor skills are necessary for kids to perform important and necessary daily tasks while also promoting independence.
Warren said there are vari- ous methods that children use while creating art that will help improve motor skills.
“The materials and tech- niques required to create art- work engages the student’s motor skills. This includes learning how to measure using a ruler, applying paint onto canvas or centering clay
Activities such as measuring and using scissors to cut out shapes can help children learn to further hone their motor skills and help them for years to come.
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How creativity benefits young brains
Art enriches lives and can be used to connect people from all walks of life. Among the many additional benefits of art is its effect on young people and the development of their brains. The American Association of School Administrators notes that neuroscience research has shown that the effects of the arts on a young brain’s cognitive, social and emotional development can be profound.
on a pottery wheel,” he said. “Visual art challenges students to focus and pay attention to details.”
Art helps kids learn to think
The AASA notes that art can be a valuable tool in instilling essential thinking tools in children, including the abil- ity to recognize and develop patterns, the ability to form mental representations of what is observed or imagined, and the ability to observe the world around them.
Warren said there are mul- tiple ways in which art causes students to think.
“Visual art teaches students that there is more than just one solution to a problem. Art requires students to see and then interpret what they see,” he said. “Creating a work of art requires a student to make informed judgments. Unlike some of the curriculum in which there is a correct an- swer, art requires students to make decisions on their own.”
Art can improve memory and focus
The AASA cites studies that indicate listening to mu- sic can stimulate parts of the brain responsible for memory recall and visual imagery. In addition, background music played in a classroom has been shown to help students remain focused while completing cer- tain learning tasks.
Roberts said she has seen art have a positive impact on chil- dren who struggle in various areas of brain development.
“Art is a medium of personal expression and helps children or adults with communica- tion difficulties,” she said. “Art is very therapeutic with the use of art media, the creative process and the resulting art- work to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, [achieve] self-awareness, manage behavior, develop
social skills, reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem.”
Art can positively affect how students approach other courses
Studies have shown that incorporating arts into the core curriculum can have a number of positive effects on students’ overall academic performance and benefit stu- dents socially. Studies indicate that students involved in such integrative programs are more emotionally invested in their classes and work more dili- gently than those not studying in such conditions. In addi- tion, students may learn more from one another when the arts are integrated into the core curriculum than when they are not.
Both Warren and Roberts described different courses in which knowledge of art could be beneficial. Warren said there are many ties to history courses in that the courses often reference famous works of art. He also said art can be used to create empathy and enhance understanding regarding events from the past. Roberts said she and other art teachers have seen artistic abil- ity have an impact on overall legibility of handwriting.
“I have had other teachers remark that with the addi- tion of art for students with bad handwriting, they could see a great deal of improve- ment in their penmanship and neatness in classwork,” Roberts said.
Art is often mistakenly seen as a strictly fun component of children’s education. But the effects of art on young brains is considerable, help- ing young people develop in ways that may surprise many men and women.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative, with contributions by Spencer Griffin, special sections writer