The one constant in childhood is changing. Every age is an adventure, surrounded by new skills, experiences, and growth. No matter what stage your child is in, art can foster youth development and encourage your child to hone their unique characteristics.

Here are three reasons art is essential to your child’s development.

Art Fosters Problem Solving

The Montessori method of child development puts a significant emphasis on choice, giving children control of their learning. After all, children learn best when they can make self-directed choices and take the lead in a hands-on way. Art is a great way to put this method into practice.

Open-ended, process-oriented art projects encourage children to make choices and reach a conclusion that will help achieve results. Give your child a variety of high-quality materials and allow them to try new techniques. The result will be a combination that’s all their own.

Further, art projects encourage focus and patience, an essential skill in our one-click world. Many art projects require drying time or multiple-step processes to reach the desired outcome. To help foster self-control and engagement, consider an art subscription box that delivers multiple-step projects for your child right to your door.

The best art subscription packages contain more than one-and-done projects. Rather, they focus on process, keeping your child engaged for longer periods of time through material organization and the activity itself.

Art Encourages Creativity and New Experiences

Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

Art allows children to experience the world in a whole new way. Children exercise their hands and their heads, using their imagination to express their unique voices.

Involving children in art early and often allows them to explore new possibilities and experience the world in a hands-on environment. Art gives a child the ability to explore mediums, tools, textures and techniques using their senses. Children can feel the paint on their fingers, smell the clay or play-dough and hear the tissue paper crinkle.

The creative process also allows a child to guide their own learning, giving them the freedom to explore and create. When looking for an art project for your child, choose activities that are open-ended, allowing your child the ability to create something uniquely theirs.

Art Creates Connection

Art is key to fostering self-expression. The creative process allows a child to be vulnerable, share their emotions and illustrate the way they view the world. As a parent, it’s essential (and frankly enjoyable) to see this first-hand.

The best way to build connection through art is with intentionality. Set aside time to create as a family, working through art projects together. Ask open-ended questions like “tell me more about it” or “what’s your favorite piece.” This interaction shows your child you genuinely care about what they’re thinking.

Further, family art time allows you to focus on connection in the middle of a hectic reality. Family art projects provide uninterrupted time to relax and talk. By using something like a curated art box, your child can create under your guidance and participation. Allowing your child to own the project, and spend quality time with you, can promote social connection and cooperation while reducing shyness and anxiety.

Discover and Bond with Your Child Through Art

Art is about more than a do-it-yourself project. Valuing and prioritizing the arts in your home has substantial benefits. Art encourages new experiences in a unique and open-minded environment. It harnesses your child’s imagination and promotes natural play. Through independent learning, with supportive adult interaction, children can engage with the world around them and learn more about themselves.