Music is a big part of our lives — in movies, as a hobby, as a passion or even as just in the background. This is why most kids have the popstar or the rockstar phase while growing up. In an article titled, ‘Five Ways Music Can Make You Healthier’ the author says, “Neuroscientists have discovered that listening to music heightens positive emotion through the reward centers of our brain, stimulating hits of dopamine that can make us feel good, or even elated. Listening to music also lights up other areas of the brain—in fact, almost no brain center is left untouched—suggesting more widespread effects and potential uses for music.”
That said, however, the positive effects of art aren’t limited to music. Let’s take a look at other art forms and how they can enhance human life.
Painting
Painting or drawing helps boost your memory. A study in 2016 conducted at Yale University observed a phenomenon called the ‘drawing memory’, which essentially means that “that illustrating a word’s meaning always leads to the highest levels of memory recall.”
Additionally, studies have found that painting also reduces anxiety. If you find yourself feeling tightly wound up and tense, painting for an hour or two can help you get some relief. There have been studies that specifically noticed a decrease in anxiety levels for college students. If you find that your child is struggling with school or feeling tense due to peer pressure, gently engage them in painting or artwork.
While the end results might not always be frame-worthy, it will reduce their anxiety, make them happier (yes, art therapy is a thing) and get them away from those screens too for a while. Did someone say win win? We agree!
Sculpting
Similar to painting and drawing, sculpting is a big part of art therapy as well. Art therapy can be used to effectively combat stress, but also to help children with learning disabilities, and to enhance social and behavioral learning.
Doing something with your hands increases the tactile reception and engages the mind. Research shows that making something with your hands increases your happiness. This is why arts and crafts are introduced to kids from a young age. By learning to work with your hands, or teaching your kids how to, you are also helping them express themselves creatively.
Photography
Most of us have phones with good cameras. Are we all photographers? Kind of, yes. Think about it — when we take a picture of a meal we cooked, we try to arrange it prettily on a plate. All of this comes under the process of creating something. This is why we feel a sense of accomplishment when we share that picture with someone else or post it to Instagram.
Photography is closely entwined with creativity and self-expression, among its many other therapeutic benefits. If you find yourself (or your teen-aged kid), framing a shot and enjoying the process, trying your hand at photography might just be the thing.
Theater
Love expressing yourself or pretending to be someone else? Theater is the best creative outlet for you. Too shy but want to be more confident? Again, the answer is theater. There are so many benefits to indulging in theater activities, such as increased oral communication skills, increased adaptability and flexibility, enhanced self-discipline and self-confidence among others.
One of the biggest benefits of theater is that it teaches empathy. Walking in someone else’s shoes requires understanding their situation. Theater can be a wonderful way to introduce kids to being empathetic towards the world around them.
Literature
Parents try hard to introduce kids to the pleasures of reading. If you are a reader, you will remember the joy of getting lost in a wonderful story as a kid (or even an adult). Reading and writing stories can be a wonderful creative outlet.
Telling stories is one of the oldest forms of communication. All the knowledge we have today has been passed onto to us in forms of stories — whether it is via folklore or documented histories. Listening, reading and writing stories is a great way to spend the time, while also resulting in increased communication skills, writing and critical thinking.
Conclusion
One form of art isn’t better than the other. All forms of art have something unique to offer to the development of the human mind. In addition to increased creativity and happiness, an exposure and involvement with the arts will help your kid (or you!) learn many more skills as well. So, what are you waiting for? Find something you or your child are interested in, nurture this passion with time and effort and watch yourselves grow and flourish. You can schedule your first piano lesson in Woodlands TX today - just call (936) 267-2958.
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