Would you choose a mono-chromatic world for your child? I believe the answer would be a resounding ‘No’. So lets get ready to drench your child in a splash of colours! How would you do that….well, the answer is very simple! You introduce your kid to the infinite world of creativity, colours and learning through ART!

How to teach literacy in Art? 

Art, colours and creative processes can be therapeutic in itself . We have all heard and read about how Art helps to relax oneself and release tensions. It provides pleasure and at the same time encourages fine motor skills through the use of different art techniques. It is also by far the most important teaching tool for improving communication (as in Literacy and vocabulary expansion), critical thinking and Mathematics.

As Temple Grandin said,

“they think in pictures”

and visual art is a natural land for kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Art provides an important channel to express your inner self – your creative release valve of whatever you see, hear, touch, smell and feel around you. Just imagine the kind of expression and vocabulary that Art and colours can give to your child. It will engage their senses and give them the opportunity to express their inner self – their imagination, their visualisation of the curious, fascinating world around them – because they will be able to COMMUNICATE through Art what they cannot (yet) through words.

No wonder it is rightly said that “Colours speak all languages”. You can help your child imagine the countryside, the busy din of city life, the calm lakeside, or the harshness of a desert! You can help him or her express sports, great monuments or the view outside the cozy bedroom window. As such, imagine the ocean of new words that can be taught and brought to their attention through Art.

And what is the next place for these word cues? They go on your Word Wall – a glancing reminder to the meaning and context in which they were used. At the same time, it builds self- esteem in your child when he/she watches the proud parents display the beautiful work of art.

How does Art improve critical thinking?

Critical thinking is the ability to take your past experiences and apply them to today or the future. It helps children to relate information to their own life and already existing knowledge. They can analyse new information, evaluate and process it, and then apply it to something new, or their own life situation. Art offers multiple opportunities for critical thinking.

Any piece of art starts from conceptual and interpretational thinking. It builds on problem solving skills and out-of-the-box thinking. Skills can be introduced so that a child can think critically through evaluation and analysis. It stimulates story telling, narration or experience sharing and enhances sequencing and detailing. So, what is actually happening in this process is that the lost communication between the brain cells or neurons is reactivated. At the same time, new neural connections are also established.

How does Art connect with Mathematics?

Confucius said:

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember; I do and I understand.”

Mathematics is not just about numbers, calculations, formulas but it is also about shape, structure, symmetry, patterns , negative and positive space and beauty. Art is an excellent tool for teaching mathematical concepts. Using art in Math significantly improves retention of key concepts and mathematical vocabulary. For example, in the picture below, students can use the three “snowballs” in the word “add” to draw a snowman, a reminder that they must line up the “snowman buttons” (decimals) when they add (or subtract).

Or Tangram shape art (dissection puzzle having 7 flat pieces) serves as an excellent tool to create a specific shape (given only in outline or silhouette) using all seven pieces, which may not overlap, enhancing spatial reasoning.

 

So next time, when your child picks up the brush, or goes over to the art corner, you know what role you are about to play. You may yourself be the “bridge” for your child or seek professional help with a certified art trainer – either way the benefits of a joyous learning experience will be there for you to cherish. After all, you may agree that the beauty is in the process and not the product !

References:

Article by Deane Alban – Be Brain Fit – ” The Mental Health Benefits of Art Are for Everyone”

Ruth.catchen.wordpress.com/tips-to-improve-critical-thinking-in-arts-education

Andrea Kuszewski (2011) – “You can increase your intelligence : 5 ways to maximize your cognitive potential.”