For years, parents and educators have been told that children’s participation in the arts help develop their brains in ways that enhance learning. A research consortium has identified that the arts can enhance how the mind performs many tasks needed to be successful in school. While the results are not totally conclusive, they do have many researchers, educators and parents enthusiastic to learn more through additional research.
This groundbreaking study is invaluable for parents and educators as they wrestle with determining the most effective environments for children to grow mentally and academically. As school systems throughout the country reduce art programs in school, the consortium’s findings show encouraging results that point to the importance of art as an avenue to enhance learning.
According to the Dana Foundation, the research has resulted in some of the following findings:
- Children who studied music intensively (20 or more hours a week) versus other types of arts and sports training have enhanced abilities in math
- The more musical training children have, the greater their improvement in reading
- Children who practice their art intensely enhance their ability to focus attention, which impacts their ability to learn
When you consider having your children participate in the arts, you should first focus on how they will enjoy it personally and master their art for the joy of it. Only then should you consider how it will help them in the logic, math and language world of school. Your children’s motivation to master their art will naturally lead to developing their minds in ways that improve learning.
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