How art helps young kids to thrive

Although you may think that art is just some fun for your little one, there are actually several

physical and emotional benefits that will aid their development and wellbeing throughout

childhood. And the best part? Art is something that can continue to be enjoyed right into

adulthood and beyond! Let’s delve into the many benefits of being creative...

Firstly, art encourages neural connections. It’s an activity that engages children’s senses from

sight, sound, touch and even smell. Your kid’s brain synapses fire away as they get creative - from

squishing paint between their fingers, mixing colours & creating new colour combinations,

combining different materials together (like sprinkling glitter on wet paint), or drawing from their

imagination or what they see in front of them.

Secondly, art builds fine motor skills. As children learn to grip a pencil, crayon or a paintbrush,

they are building the foundations for learning to write. Even simple activities like cutting with

scissors, kneading playdough and stringing beads together all hone fine motor skills, which will

enable them to become better coordinated and improve their dexterity over time. And the best

part is that they will have fun while continuing to practise these skills!

Of course, one of the biggest benefits of getting crafty is that it promotes creativity. At A Little

Bite studio, we love to see how differently our students express themselves through art. When

children are given free rein to create or an open-ended process orientated brief, we can see how

engrossed they become as they think outside the box and learn to do things in a new way. It is

well known that problem solving and breakthroughs are all linked to the power of creativity.

Importantly, art is valuable for helping children to regulate their emotions and process the

world around them. As art teachers, we often see the transformation that art can have on kids

who may be dealing with big emotions or going through a tough time. Getting creative allows

these children to explore their feelings and reflect on the world in a safe environment, like at our

studio art classes. We deliberately have small class numbers to ensure kids don’t feel

overwhelmed and can confidently speak their mind in a group setting. Various movements,

imagery, colours, shapes and lines can all help children express themselves in a multidimensional

way, without having to communicate using words.

Here at A Little Bite studio, we also love seeing our students connect with each other through

art. Although they don’t know each other initially, creating art has become a way for them to

bond over a shared activity and many friendships have been formed from our classes! As the

students discuss their processes or what they’re making together, a common ground is

established, and their confidence increases week by week.

If your little one needs to experience more art in their daily life, we invite you to book them into

one of A Little Bite’s term classes (available for various age groups) or school holiday workshops.

You can learn more about our creative offering here.