When talking about art in the development of children or young children, many people may not be able to imagine how art can be related to development. Because it is not only the development of logical knowledge that will help promote knowledge and skills as parents understand, there is also a part that art can enhance skills in many areas, such as imagination, concentration, confidence, including having a good attitude and looking at the world creatively.
Art’s Role in Early Childhood Development
Doing art activities can help children develop their knowledge, thoughts, and intellect, which can come with the use of small muscles or sometimes together with the use of large muscles because children can do art activities through listening, speaking, drawing, writing, or creating objects from small to large. So let’s see what types of art activities are suitable for children at each age.
Good and Aesthetic Environment
In the first year of life until not more than 2 years old (newborn – infant baby), children at this age seem to have difficulty accessing art, but in fact, learning about art can occur by using the most basic senses, such as seeing, listening, speaking, tasting and smelling. Therefore, we should create a good and aesthetic environment at the same time, so that children can sense the aesthetics around them, whether it is parents, nannies or some families have nanny-tutors who play with the younger siblings. The tone of conversation or playing music should be creative.
Healthy Muscles
At the age of 2-4 years old, children start to move their muscles more, which results in children being able to do more art activities. In addition to listening and watching, at the first age, children of this age will start to draw as they want. The images will not mean anything. It is picking up objects to draw with pens or pencils on paper. Or sometimes when going out to play outside, they will pick up nearby objects such as twigs to write on the ground. However, children of this age should be careful for parents or caregivers to be careful about safety from the sharp edges of pens, pencils or twigs. When children express themselves by drawing, we should be close but help or force them to let their imagination be fully creative.
When they reach the age of 4-6 years old, it is the age when the body and communication develop well. Children will start to draw pictures that communicate with their own imagination. They may draw simple pictures such as people, houses, trees, clouds, or sometimes they may draw symbols. Each picture will help children learn to communicate and develop other skills.
From birth to six years old, it can be seen that the development of perception and art has developed naturally to some extent. However, if people around the child, both family or potential caregivers:
- Help promote the child in terms of creativity and a good attitude
- Looking at the world in a positive way
- Making the child concentrate
This will result in easy logical learning.
Final Words
However, no matter how many other important components there are in taking care of young children, don’t forget to let them try to do what they like and be in a good environment. This will make them feel comfortable and do well.
