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 Whether in an individual setting or as part of a group, arts education improves a child’s confidence. For example, studies have shown that when children participate in art activities with peers, the feedback they give to each other builds self-respect by helping them learn to accept criticism and praise from others. And that’s not the only way it can improve self-esteem. Here are five other ways the arts help your child on the road to a better sense of self:

The arts instill pride

When children puts their heart and soul into an art project—and spends hours working on it, cultivating it, and making it beautiful — they'll feel an enormous sense of accomplishment when it’s complete. Children not only become appreciators of each other’s work, but also develop skills of self-reflection in the effort to bring their personal vision to fruition.

The arts help  children develop real-life skills. 

Whether it’s music, drawing, acting, or dance — children learn important real-world skills including critical and creative thinking, hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and social skills like taking turns, sharing, and negotiating. In addition, children learn persistence and higher level thinking through creative problem solving when given the opportunity to spend time creating a completed, invested work of art.

The arts lead to higher test scores in the classroom. 

Self-esteem increases when a child feels confident in the classroom. Skills learned from studying the arts including concentration and dedication, affects classroom values and test scores. Research has found that students who were highly involved with the arts outperformed less-involved peers, even within low socioeconomic groups. 

The arts increase opportunities for self-expression. 

Another benefit of arts education is giving children a way to express themselves, especially in a classroom setting. When students are working towards a common goal, they appreciate that their “voice” and interests are heard and understood by others. This joint effort creates a sense of secure acceptance that is critical to their self-esteem.

The arts increase an individual’s sense of belonging or attachment to a community.

Community art programs help introduce children to new people and experiences. This attachment encourages them to engage in social and creative activities while feeling part of a larger community. Through the arts, children will learn about trust and develop interpersonal skills and friendships.

Arts-related study, no matter the art, is critical to building a child’s self-esteem—whether in a studio, classroom, or playground. 

References: PBS.org, Kennedy Center for the Arts

The effort, multi-sensory engagement and repetitive actions of crafting have been shown to reduce cortisol and increase serotonin, the mood stabilizing hormone, thus reducing stress.

Arts and crafts has a meditative quality as it requires repetition, focus and attention, which helps us engage in mindfulness. 

In describing the positive well-being effects of crafts, researchers use the concept of flow, described as an intense involvement in an activity within which the person experiences meaning and mindfulness, which provides a healthy distraction from other stressors.