The short answer is… yes! In addition to all the other benefits that art provides, a big one that may help several moms out there is that art can foster patience in children.
There’s so much more to art than what meets the eye. It requires time-investment, attention to detail, trial and error, perseverance, and reflection/revision. We’ll go over this in more detail down below.
Time investment: Time and dedication are both often required when creating art and this teaches children that over time, creating something meaningful takes patience and a willingness to invest time and effort into the process. As they work on their artwork, they develop patience by understanding that worthwhile outcomes require perseverance.
Attention to Detail: Art encourages children to pay attention to details and take their time to refine their work. It requires careful observation, focus, and concentration. By patiently attending to each stroke, shape, or color, children learn the value of patience and the importance of taking their time to achieve the desired results.
Trial and error: Not everything is going to magically turn out perfect on the first try. Art provides a space for trial and error, where children can learn from their mistakes and iterate on their work. They’ll begin to understand that patience is required to learn from failures, make adjustments, and improve their artistic skills.
Perseverance through challenges: Art can present various challenges, such as finding creative solutions, overcoming artistic blocks, or mastering new techniques. By persisting through these challenges, children develop patience, resilience, and a growth mindset. They learn to view obstacles as opportunities for growth and understand that progress may come gradually.
Reflection and revision: Art encourages children to reflect on their work and make revisions as needed. They learn to step back, evaluate their artwork, and consider areas for improvement. This process cultivates patience as they understand the value of reflection, revision, and the iterative nature of artistic growth.
By being engaged in the process of art rather than just the final product, children will develop patience as they navigate the various stages of artistic creation!