8 Reasons Why Arts Integration is Beneficial for Students

There is no doubt that the arts are fun for students. Diving into finger paints and drawing a beautiful picture to hang on the fridge is awesome. Acting in a play is exhilarating. But the arts also help students develop on many fundamental levels.  

Here are the top 8 ways that the arts help students learn and develop essential characteristics they will need as adults: 

1. Creativity 

The arts allow students to express themselves in their own way. In an art class, students are asked to recite a monologue in six different ways, create a painting that represents a memory, or compose a new rhythm to enhance a piece of music. If students practice thinking creatively, it will come naturally to them now and in their future careers.  

2. Motor Skills 

In the early years, simple things like holding a paintbrush and scribbling with a crayon are important elements in developing a child’s fine motor skills. The more a child practices drawing at a younger age, the more easier the child will be able to pick up advanced and technical motor skills.

3. Confidence 

While mastering a subject certainly builds a student’s confidence, there is something special about participating in the arts. Getting up on a stage and singing gives students a chance to step outside of their comfort zone. As they improve and see their own progress, their self-confidence will continue to grow. 

4. Visual Learning  

For young learners, drawing, painting, and sculpting in school can help with visual-spatial skills. Children need to know more about the world than just what they can learn through text and numbers. Art teaches students how to interpret, criticize, and use visual information to make choices based on it.  

5. Decision Making 

The arts strengthen problem-solving and critical thinking skills. “How do I express this feeling through my dance? How should I play this character?” Learning how to make choices and decisions will certainly carry over into their education and other parts of life.  

6. Perseverance 

The arts can be challenging. When picking up a new hobby – such as playing an instrument, it can be frustrating. It takes practice, patience, and hard work to pay off. This mindset will certainly matter as students grow up, especially during their careers where they will likely be asked to continually develop new skills and work through difficult projects.  

7. Focus  

As students persevere through painting or singing or learning a part in a play, having focus is imperative. And certainly, having focus is vital for studying and learning in class as well as in a career.  

8. Collaboration 

Many of the arts such as band, choir, and theater require students to work together. They must share responsibility and compromise to achieve their common goal. Students learn that their contribution to the group is integral to their success.

Education in the arts is essential in developing these fundamental, yet abstract components of human knowledge and skill. Learning about art in all its forms makes students challenge the world they see around them, looking for multiple ways to solve problems and create something new.