#creative problem-solving skills

Of all the different forms of learning, visual arts education perhaps is the most preferred and effective way for children to use and express what they understand about their world. Studies indicate that once children learn to draw, sketch and scribble they will be able to try and tell you what is happening inside their minds in a language you will be able to understand. Especially when they have difficulty finding the right words to express what they’re feeling deep within.

This is why it is critical for parents to start nurturing visual arts activities at home to trigger early childhood development in an organized manner. To begin with, the benefits realized by toddlers and preschoolers will include the strengthening of their fine & gross motor skills, accelerated neural network strengthening, acquiring problem-solving skills, and improved concentration levels.

Art classes for kids at an early age will also play a major role in laying a solid foundation in acquiring other key learning skills such as reading, writing and being able to understand their world more clearly.

In addition to helping children express, process and understand their emotions, child psychologists are of the view that visual arts education develops self-esteem and increases confidence. By creating opportunities to explore and discover, you will set children free to experience a wider range of sensory information which in turn aids in long-term development.

Children love creative play

Children are born curious and there is nothing quite like play to widen their horizons. As you are aware, even from the time they are in a cradle, babies begin to explore, observe and imitate, trying to figure out how things operate and how to control themselves and their environment around them.

This naturally unrestricted opportunity for exploration and movement helps children form real-time neural connections in their brains. As they grow and gain control of their limbs, they are up and about physically checking out everything they get to see how to interact and see how best to manage what is essentially a strange new world they are living in.

Adopting visual arts in early childhood education will help support free play by giving children the opportunities to manipulate different materials in a safe, organic and unstructured way allowing experimentation to take place. These instinctive pursuits and self-directed activities will not only be fun for children but aid all-around growth as well.

Direct benefits of painting & drawing

Realizing the importance of visual arts in education does not mean that you would be limiting your child’s future career options or are training him to be a painter, far from it. Your child will gain critical tools that will help her to unlock the many of her inherent capabilities which she might miss out on otherwise — exploring, discovering and developing skills in ways other activities just cannot do!

Tuning up motor skills

Grasping pencils, crayons, chalk and paintbrushes helps children develop their fine motor muscles. When they begin to enlarge the space they are working on and magnify their drawings, they experience movements. The physical movement of their hands, arms and feet helps your child with writing, buttoning a coat and other daily tasks that require controlled movements.

Cognitive development

Art can help children learn and practice skills like patterning and experience cause and effects (i.e., “when I press my crayon harder I can make colours darker”. While busy playing, your child will get to learn and practice critical thinking skills, making mental plans, imagine images of what they intend to create and how best to follow through with their plans.

Math skills

Children can learn, create and begin to understand concepts like size, shapes, make comparisons, and develop spatial reasoning. Visual arts centre  is perhaps the most efficient place where children will get to learn about numbers which are essential for developing a clear understanding as they come face-to-face with mathematical concepts and their application across learning areas. Visual Arts Activities inform problem-solving and the construction and design of objects in the physical and the digital world.

Language skills

Through visual arts education, children are encouraged to describe and share their artwork, as well as the processes they instinctively follow and develop language skills. Through Visual Arts Activities, you can motivate your child to develop faster by actively listening and asking open-ended questions. It is also a great opportunity for your child to learn new vocabulary words from the projects she works on.

Nurturing the five senses

We have all heard of the five senses of perception: taste, sight, touch, smell, and sound. What we may not be aware of is the presence of a sixth sense called ‘proprioception’. This sense helps a child make correct judgements on the position of an object in space, manipulate the object by controlling the movement of limbs, sense the extent of muscle force and effort required to perform a task, and most importantly, maintain a sense of physical balance.

There are many benefits your child will realize when she actively engages in art classes for kids. Here are four of the fundamentals that enable your child to function effectively and efficiently as she grows up:

Help your child develop physically

Art and craft activities at a Visual arts centre help support and develop fine &  gross motor skills and improve a child’s hand and eye coordination. Bear in mind, there children are spending more and more of their time interacting with digital devices, which means, sooner than later, your toddler’s time will be devoted to viewing screens by default!

If not corrected at an early stage, your child may have fewer opportunities to develop her hand and finger strength. This could slow her ability to complete everyday tasks on her own — dressing by herself, tying a shoelace, catching and throwing a ball, writing, brushing her teeth, bathing… the list is endless.

Help your child manage emotions

Being able to express how one feels is a big advantage when you are a little child. Doing it with clarity is difficult even for some adults. Your child may be experiencing new feelings and does not know what these feelings are. A visual arts centre allows your child to bring these feelings out into the open, and will be helping her make sense of and understand these deeply felt feelings.  This also helps build self-confidence in your child to efficiently manage her feelings and emotions.

Visual arts centre activities that help to describe different emotions and situations: role-playing, storytelling, drawing, modelling and painting.

Help your child master social skills

The fundamental understanding that other people are different from us is a big leap in learning for children. Creative art activities that your child will be involved in at a visual arts centre help demonstrate to your child that her peers will do things differently from herself, even when given the same resources. It also helps your child to reconcile quickly that it is OK to be different from others.

Play activities at a visual arts centre are a great way to help build friendships and strengthen bonds between you and your child as well as with her friends. Visual arts centre activities that help develop social skills: singing, dancing, acting, drawing, creating models, and nature walks are all great ways to help friendship and bonding.

Help your child increase IQ

Creative art activities at a visual arts centre help your child to develop many thinking skills. As stated earlier, these skills include problem-solving, developing imagination, concentration and critical thinking skills. By playing with different materials and tools, and discovering new concepts and techniques, your child will be able to comprehend basic mathematics and science concepts and develop her own ideas.

By practising these skills during the early years of her life, your child will be able to adapt and transfer these crucial skills to other curriculum areas as she gets older.

Your child’s wellbeing

Everyone is getting busier and busier these days, and a child’s life is incredibly busy too. Switching from one activity to another also puts a child under increasing pressure as she tries to cope and be good at everything.

So it will be of great help to your child if you set aside a fixed time every day. Where you decide to be led by your child, to be playful and have fun together. No goals to meet, no hidden agendas, and never a waste of your precious time.

Being in the moment, enjoying the time together and giving your child your total attention is the best way of getting to know your child, bonding with her, and cherishing those shared experiences. Wonderful memories that will stay with you forever.

The fundamental purpose of visual arts activities at a visual arts centre is to inspire, instruct and support the pursuit of knowledge and not stifle it. Hence it is worth reminding, that learning is not driven by fear but by the desire to play!

About Abrakadoodle

This is the kind of Process Art learning experience that inspire children to think different, be innovative, and devise ways that teach them interesting ways to learn and interact with things found in the real world. Changing the way they discover and imagine. Igniting their minds to think, play and learn like never before.

If you like to enrol your child in our visual art classes or participate in cognitive learning activities, give Abrakadoodle a call. Or better still, make an appointment with the head of a centre near you.

Get hands-on trial exposure to an experience that will make you see Visual Arts Activities as a way that adds value to a child’s life.

Please note: Abrakadoodle classrooms are thoroughly sanitized every day — the tables, the chairs, the children’s activity stations and everything else the child might touch is made safe and clean. They also wear a mask, wash their hands frequently, and practice social distancing.

Several researchers have discovered that children who acquire artistic skills as early as infancy are more proficient across all dimensions of life. Process art activities are designed to stimulate children's imagination and creativity. Thus, encouraging them to innovate and devise practical solutions to tactical problems is key. The top three ways to develop creative thinking skills in children: 

 1. Think out-of-the-box - Everything feels exciting when a young mind is given the opportunity to let their imagination run wild! A 5-year-old, for example, who is empowered by imaginative thinking jumps with delight when asked to draw a pig with wings that flies high in the sky or a lioness who swims in the ocean. 

 2. Treat art as a form of play - Critical thinking skills can be easily instilled in children when they take joy in playing with art tools and explore different applications of art techniques in their creations, especially during the times of leisure.

Parents of young children have to nurture creativity and imagination, the two critical qualities that will play a big role in their future. Help them grow up doing exciting art projects that make them exercise their natural abilities and keep them happier as well.

Imagination-driven learning in early childhood will help them realize their full potential.  Exercising their minds by involving them in activities like drawing, storytelling, or imagining vivid and wild scenarios – the more out of the world their ideas, the better will be the outcome.  Children by nature are intelligent and imaginative.

So the only person who has to relearn the “how” of being creative and re-ignite imagination is us, the parents. This is a fact. According to most experts, adults are victims of an outdated educational system that was designed for a different time. For instance, by the end of our college years, our education “system” would have been successful in extinguishing the creative ‘spark’ within us.

So quite literally, our children give us the best opportunity to help rekindle and sparkle again as we did when we were young — free, joyful and living in the moment! Re-learning how to be a child by being with our children. Don’t miss this God-sent opportunity. Here is how you can start the creative journey that lets the child within you express.

Have faith in the creative process

Parents and children often tend to focus on the result. The thinking driving this obsession is that you either have a reasonably good looking artwork at the end of an art session, or the whole exercise is a washout. This is a wrong way to access and manage children’s imagination and creativity.

For example, when you and your child are involved in drawing a house, the house doesn’t need to have four walls and a rectangle roof. This kind of restriction limits imagination. After all, there are a million different ways to render a house. It is best to avoid introducing preconceived notions, allow your child to be free to imagine and express her ideas of what a house can be.

Imagination-driven learning in early childhood helps shift attention and make the child see the beauty in the creative process instead. This change in perspective will be a lot more engaging and fun for you and your child.

Be curious

When spending time with a child you will notice a trait that sometimes drives parents up the wall. Children are persistent and experts at being curious and never tire of asking questions. Why? Why does the water in the waterfall flow down and not up? Why does a cork float and not sink? These kinds of creative thinking skills help your child preserve their sense of curiosity and nurture the spirit of inquiry.

This is what having a creative mindset means. Imagination-driven learning in early childhood focuses on fostering a different way of seeing the world, where you wonder and notice the puzzling things that abound in our world. Creativity and imagination are all about not accepting how things are. It’s about wondering how things can be and could be better.

For instance, when you see your child playing with her favourite doll, instead of just watching her, join in and start a conversation. Help her to see things differently and to wonder. Trigger her curiosity by asking her to imagine, “What makes the doll blink her eyes?” Wonder together.

Follow it up with another question, “What do you think the doll’s hair is made of?  If she says “plastic.” Ask her, ‘Do you think her hair will get wet? “Shall we give her a bath?” Your child will be so intrigued that she will want to undress her doll and get it ready for a bath in a jiffy!

Make it fun

The mark of divergent thinking and looking at things in an alternative way is when you have a sense of humour. It also allows children to practice thinking outside the box in a fun way. And when they get a laugh out of others, their creativity is instantly rewarded.

Riddles and jokes put children in the mood and ready to look at things in different ways. You could follow it up with the “knock, knock: who’s there!” game. Ideal for a dull rainy day when things tend to get quiet and sort of boring. Add a dash of fun, cheer it up!

The best way to break the tension is by helping your child see the humour in a tense situation. Like when your girl just spilt a huge glass of juice, and she is upset about it. You might say, “see the juice is gone, I think the tablecloth was thirsty!” This will immediately make her feel better.

The idea is simple: have the presence of mind to model positive reactions to bad situations.

Ask for help to solve your problems

Creativity generates ideas that are new and come in very handy when it comes to solving problems. So it is OK for you to ask your child to help solve a problem you are facing. For example, involving her to come up with a toy for her dog, so that he is not bored when you go out to the cinema and there is no one to play with.

Involving your child in brainstorming ideas, then implementing one together, gives your child hands-on problem-solving practice. This will also help them to see that creativity is everywhere and is a very useful skill. These types of workouts which involve watching and helping when you have a problem to solve is just as crucial to nurture creativity as arts and crafts.

Be a role model

It is good to keep in mind that children learn by imitating adults. This is why as a parent, it becomes essential for you to be a role model to your child. They look up to you and learn daily.

So when you are immersed in your project, there is no harm in asking your child to see and help out. Whether the project you are involved in is making miniature dollhouse furniture or writing code, work on it with your child alongside watching.

Talk about what you are doing. Find ways to share what you love. Your child will pick up on your energy and enthusiasm and will want to do the same, making the space come alive. And whenever you see your child making something, you might want to try it too.

Sit down by her side and start to sketch, or enthuse over what your child is doing. Listen to her when she corrects you and wants you to do it her way. Encourage, and increase the time you spend together. Doing all sorts of things, knitting, painting, writing, cooking or playing music or just shooting the breeze with her!

Another point of view

Questioning assumptions help you gain fresh insights and perspectives and push your child’s creativity to new levels. Getting her to see different viewpoints will help your child look at the world in new ways. This could be as simple and inexpensive as reading a book about a different culture, which can give your child a new outlook.

All you have to do is ask your child to put herself in the character’s shoes. Pretty soon she’ll begin to see that creativity is worth pursuing and sharing and is found everywhere she looks. Even watching birds flying can become an instructive lesson in flight dynamics!

Leaving gaps for your child to fill

According to a study in the online journal, Frontiers in Psychology, children need time in their day to engage in activities of their choosing. The most enriching one could be examining dust with a beam of light passing through it, or messing around in a pile of dry leaves, but not another round of lessons in French.

Children who get to spend more time in free-form activities are more able at setting their own goals and take action to meet them without being guided by adults. That’s a skill for a lifetime!

What may come as a surprise is realizing that boredom can be a stimulant that encourages creativity. There is truth in this insight because boredom induces daydreaming — a state in which the mind wanders and allows you to look at things in new ways.

Think of being bored as a time off for a child’s brain. It helps. In one study, subjects who were asked to read a telephone book aloud (a boring thing), came up with more uses for disposable cups afterwards than those who were not asked to do this boring task.

Passion pushes creativity

Creating something new, or figuring out a problem needs stamina. This is why, when you show that you value your child’s efforts, you will help your child to keep at it and not give up when a task becomes a little difficult. Your interest will help her to keep going and that helps build the creativity muscle.

The real big creative achievements in life — coming up with a game-changing idea about how to fix global warming — requires persistence and commitment to developing the expertise needed. Creativity comes from passion and motivation. It happens only when you get real pleasure out of doing something.

It will be worthwhile to expose your child to a diverse range of pursuits to see if she finds something that ignites her mind. If she falls in love with art, find ways to encourage her enthusiasm. When children are given the freedom to explore in this way, there is significant brain growth and personal development. Besides, your child just might discover a passion that will change her life.

About Abrakadoodle

Abrakadoodle children art programs inspire children to think differently, be innovative, and devise ways that teach about interesting things found in the real world. Ignite their minds to think, play and learn like never before. Changing the way children discover and imagine.

When it comes to arming children with effective creativity and critical thinking skills, the normal Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education is not enough. Children need a focus to develop a creative mindset, this is why STE(A)M education becomes crucial. The process creates more opportunities to be successful in the real world, in real life and in real-time.

The A in STEAM — art — brings in personal expression, empathy, meaning-making and a purpose to what children are learning. It begins to prepare children for the future by laying the foundation for acquiring the 21st century skills they will need to play an effective role in the workforce of the future.

What is STEAM education?

By focusing on arts and integrating all five disciplines in creative ways, will help children grow up more well-rounded. The idea is to teach children that they don’t have to be only analytical or only creative — they can be both. STEAM shows children how they can use both skills to solve almost any problem they face. Preparing children for life, regardless of the profession they choose to follow. Instilling and nurturing the capability to adapt to a constantly evolving and fast-paced world they are growing up in.

21st Century skill sets

STEAM sparks learning through hands-on activities and brings the freedom of creativity to play an active role in opening up the usually logic driven hard science fields. Remember, some of the most amazing discoveries and innovations that happen in the world come from individuals who stepped outside of the box so that they could think creatively.

When taught correctly, STEAM subjects teach children how to solve problems — skills that can be used throughout life to help them get through tough times and take advantage of opportunities whenever they appear.

Another important aspect of the STEAM approach is that children aren’t taught just the subject matter, they’re taught how to ask questions, how to be innovative and how to create. Rest assured, STEAM education will enhance your child’s personal development like nothing else can.

Thinking independently

STEAM education is not about hand-holding and learning by rote. Children are given the freedom to think, evaluate, and determine how best to achieve their goals and complete projects. The focus is not on results but on the way they learn to think while completing their projects.

The learning environment is non-judgemental, is risk free, and making mistakes is okay. The idea that mistakes are often the best teachers is both encouraged and reinforced. Children are also given the choice to learn at their own pace and skill level.

They can decide to spend more time and focus at the fundamental beginners level or challenge themselves by choosing to work with complex concepts. The environment ensures that ideas flow and are discussed freely with one and another. Children are not held back but actively supported to develop their intellectual capacities on their own.

Mix and match

No subject is given more importance. and all subjects are presented in relationship with one another. STEAM education is driven by a cross-disciplinary emphasis, exposing children to multiple, and lateral ways of thinking.

This approach enables children to view the unique advantages of each discipline. It tells them that they’re not limited to one particular subject, or must choose between a technical or artistic topic.

The reason for this is simple. Expertise is gained by having an equal understanding of all the subjects. STEAM is a truly well-rounded program that appeals to a child’s  evolving curiosity and range of interests.

Project driven learning

A central premise of STEAM education is hands-on, project-based learning. This approach enables children to discover and experiment with various methods.

The addition of Art is to help make complex science and maths subjects approachable and less frightening. All projects are evaluated on a subjective basis that values creativity, rather than on a right or wrong answer.

This method supports the child’s educational journey and promotes creative expression and not rote learning.

Master creative problem-solving skills

Think-outside-the-box problem-solving is one of the most sought-after skills within the job market. Creativity might seem like a natural skill, but in reality it is something that can be fostered by a well-rounded STEAM education. Inspiring open-ended, creative exploration serves as a form of productive play and learning process. There are no rigid rules to follow. And children are  encouraged to demonstrate their thinking around the problem capability. There are no fixed procedures, allowing children to assess a large set of details and realize that problem-solving models can be flexible.

Opening up the world for girls

Science and math are seen as being more suitable to males, and many girls are discouraged from an early age. STEAM education however thinks otherwise and believes that this has nothing to do with aptitude.

STEAM levels the playing field by encouraging girls to pursue their interest in these subjects right from their elementary school years. Developing a keen interest in these subjects promotes working memory, improves attention, and increases other basic cognitive skills. And Building their confidence levels in a natural way.

About Abrakadoodle and STEAM

Research has proven beyond doubt that Art and being creative nurtures the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of children. And getting them involved in creative, science- and maths-based learning can kindle a deeper interest in these subjects.

Abrakadoodle believes that the earlier children begin to learn through a STEAM framework, the quicker they can develop key creative and critical thinking skills. So don’t wait for a regular school to introduce your child to STEAM subjects, make it a point to help them make a healthy start at Abrakadoodle.