Benefits of Drawing & Painting for Children: San Francisco Pros Weigh In
Many parents view drawing and painting as simple ways to pass the time, activities that keep young hands busy without much lasting effect. Research on childhood development suggests otherwise. The act of creating art appears to offer measurable benefits in confidence, coordination, and emotional expression that extend well beyond the page. A Measurable Boost in Confidence One of the clearest findings on children and art comes from a study conducted by researchers at University College London. The research found that children who took part in arts activities most days had higher levels of self-esteem than those who rarely or never did. Painting, drawing, and making things produced a 32 percent boost in self-esteem, a larger increase than either reading for enjoyment or engaging with music. What makes this finding particularly useful for parents is that the benefit did not depend on a child's natural talent. Children rated as having above-average artistic ability did not show higher...