Quite a few parents look at art pursuits as mere fun time for toddlers, however the the truth is that art and art exercises can be extremely good for a toddler’s growth. The reality that art is fun really helps to engage youngsters, but a majority of art exercises in fact serve a much larger purpose than merely occupying a youngster for a couple of hours. Compared with virtually any other subject that youngsters may go on to discover more about in school, art is extensive enough to lend itself to simple learnings over the whole curriculum. Let’s examine 4 ways that art activities can help your toddler.

Build Fine Motor Skills

Toddlers can only learn fine motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination through practice. Basic art activities like painting and colouring are fantastic for building these skills. Colouring with a crayon is the first step in being able to hold and write with a pencil. By introducing art activities at a young age, you are providing a platform for your toddler to develop these skills that will help them immeasurably in their educational development.

Expression

Toddlers can have a difficult time expressing their feelings. They often lack the vocabulary necessary to express themselves and their emotions. Art gives children a way of doing just that. Taking the example of drawing, this can be not only what they draw, but the colours that they choose and the manner in which they approach the task. Art is a wonderful way of allowing toddlers truly express how they are feeling when they are incapable of otherwise doing so.

Concentration

Any parent with an energetic young toddler can attest to the fact that it can be difficult to focus a child’s attention for any period of time. Art encourages children to do just that. Tasks like colouring inside the lines, tracing out an outline or cutting out a shape all take focus and concentration. These are calming processes that engage children for periods of time. Even something as simple as waiting for paint to dry is an important lesson for children – it not only teaches, but rewards, patience.

Creating a Bond

Finding the time to really bond with children can be difficult. However, art allows parents to play with their toddlers in a way that fosters and encourages close bonds. Working together towards a common goal is not only fun but rewarding. Rather than simply leaving your child some paper and crayons, try to get involved and colour with them. Your child will learn to cherish the time spend with you.