School age is widely accepted as an appropriate time to begin a child’s education in art and music. Although art is beneficial at this age, research shows that children can benefit from art at a much earlier age than previously thought. Neuroscience has shown that the human brain is a complex structure that begins to develop and respond to stimuli while the child is still in the womb. Introducing children to art soon after birth can provide a multitude of benefits that will enhance early childhood development.
The basic architecture of a child’s brain is shaped by their early experiences. For a baby, objects and sounds that stimulate all five senses are extremely important for cognitive development. Stimulation of the senses can be achieved by exposing the baby to music and art. Babies begin to understand the basics of language through speech, reading to a baby helps that process. Since baby books are also full of colorful pictures, reading with a baby also creates visual stimulation. Stimulating a child with brightly colored pictures or objects, as well as music, increases brain activity. This increased activity promotes understanding of other skills later in life. Babies who spend time looking at patterns and shapes are stimulating the area of the brain that will be crucial for later development of math skills. The key is to see a child’s development as a series of building blocks. These blocks will have a better foundation if a child is surrounded by art and music at an early age.
As a child grows, the way they experience art also grows. Already from one year of age, a child can begin to experiment with paint and clay, which will help with the development of motor skills. In the toddler stage, children begin to experience complex emotions that often cause frustration and stress. Painting and drawing can serve as a release from that stress and as a way to express those emotions. Using art to express thoughts and feelings will help a child increase her general cognitive skills. Increasing these skills leads to the development of tangible skills such as attention span, learning skills, information retention, and the ability to understand and apply abstract concepts. Exposure to music is also linked to increased cognitive abilities. Children who are encouraged to play with simple musical instruments have been shown to have a better understanding of basic spatial skills. Early exposure to music helps form the same connections in neural pathways that are necessary for the acquisition of math skills. Playing musical instruments also has physical benefits, such as better motor skills and coordination.
It is clear that early and ongoing exposure to art and music will help a child develop and in turn be successful later in the school setting. The importance of exposure to art from birth and beyond has been studied extensively. Raising awareness among parents of the importance of art in early childhood development will benefit society as a whole. Hopefully, this evidence will build support for educational programs that will teach parents how to incorporate art into their children’s lives.