I have just returned from speaking at a national meeting of researchers, educators and artists who focus on the role of the arts in children's learning. From early childhood through adolescence, arts education engages children in responding to, performing and creating works of art.
Children develop skills, values and habits of mind crucial to their personal growth and development.
These are essential skills and abilities for living and working in today's world. The arts often serve as a pathway to success in other academic subject areas. Specifically, the arts are a highly motivating and engaging way to promote literacy. Because the arts involve the whole mind and body, they can be used to enhance memory and understanding of any subject. And, for children at risk, the arts often are a way of developing an area of competence that can lead the child to a new sense of hope and confidence.