The Arts in Education: Findings

By Neve Spicer, Chief Editor @ WeTheParents.org
​WeTheParents is a judgment-free parenting resource that advocates for simplicity and humor in family life. Written by parents for parents, WTP supports mothers, fathers, and guardians at all stages of their child-rearing journey.

If there's one thing that parents and educators can agree on wholeheartedly, it's that a well-rounded curriculum serves students best. There seems to be a universal agreement that children should have the opportunity to engage with math, science, language, history, and geography in their learning, but subjects like visual art, music, and theater tend to receive far less emphasis.
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Unfortunately, in some schools and curricula, both time and funding for arts education are circling the drain. Scientific studies have associated arts education with some of the same long-term benefits as STEM learning, including critical thinking, enhanced ability to collaborate, and improved self-view; in fact, this barely scratches the surface of what science has determined arts education offers children. See We The Parent's "51 Benefits of Arts Education for Kids" infographic.

Some important information:

• Social and Emotional well-being is positively impacted by the time children spend in arts classes, with studies linking higher self-esteem, feelings of positivity, and lower rates of stress, anxiety, and depression to arts education. See source.
• Children who study plays and theater are at a special advantage when it comes to reading and writing, as it is linked to a larger vocabulary, better word use, better writing skills, and increased comprehension while reading. See source. 
  
• There are also physical benefits to the study of the arts, including the enhancement of both gross and fine motor skills, the improvement of hand-eye coordination, and an improvement in both confidence and ability when trying out new tools and means of creating art. See source.