There are many benefits to signing children up for art classes. Here are a few:

1. Encourages creativity and self-expression: Art classes provide a safe and supportive environment for children to explore their creative side and express themselves through various mediums, such as painting, drawing, and sculpture.
   
2. Develops fine motor skills: Participating in art activities can help children develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, which are important for writing, drawing, and other activities.
   
3. Boosts self-esteem and confidence: Children who are able to create something on their own and see their progress over time may feel a sense of accomplishment and pride, which can boost their self-esteem and confidence.
   
4. Enhances problem-solving skills: Art activities often require children to think critically and find creative solutions to problems, which can help them develop important problem-solving skills.
   
5. Promotes relaxation and stress relief: Art can be a therapeutic activity that helps children relax and de-stress, especially after a long day at school or during times of stress or uncertainty.
   

Overall, art classes can provide children with a variety of benefits that can help them grow and develop in a positive way.

It is always those small things we overlook that can have large unintended consequences in in our choices. Teaching our little ones mindfulness is a great way to help them make better choices throughout life. That is why art at an early age is a great learning tool for our kiddos. Art in all its forms is a great and organic way for your little one to practice mindfulness and it also helps them learn or question the world around them.

When your little one draws, paints or sculpts not only is your child’s mind taking in what they see but your child then experiences the processes of creating, the feel of the paper, paint or clay, the feeling of the paintbrush, pencil or sculpting tool.

So how can we encourage these moments, a simple way is using the “tin soldier method”. Try this - go out and buy three apples, then line them up and ask your child what they see. Are the shapes the same? Is there a feature on one that makes it stand out from the others?

After you have done that, have them paint, draw or color them keeping in mind what made them different and see how this can impact your child’s art.

Then let your little one explain their art. Not only is this a great time for you to encourage them by giving them the stage but you create another opportunity for them to see mindfulness through your attentiveness and feedback.
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Until next time.. stay creative!!

I get this question hundreds of times a year. The truth is maybe!? Skill in art requires patience, mindfulness, and the willingness to grow through failure.
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Too often I talk to parents that harshly speak about their child as a fixed object with skill or “they just don’t have “it”“. Now I think we have all at one point met someone skilled with little effort in art, sports etc. but the truth is over the years it isn’t the kids who come in with skill that have grown the most, it is the kids who struggle and fail but never give up it is the little ones who fight through the tears and won’t stop that are the ones who have at times out paced those students who walked in with “it”

Always remember, your little ones can cultivate skill in anything over time, grow from failure, and build success just as many of us have in our professional lives.

Stay creative !!!