Brain Development through Artistic Expression

I come from a strong background in artistic expression. I began ballet at the age of two when my mother noticed a strong connection I had with music, movement, and rhythm. In kindergarten, several teachers (not just my classroom teacher) told my mother that I had an exceptional ability to draw and color to great detail and so, I began private art lessons at age five. Later that year, my parents bought a piano in hopes that my brother would take an interest in music. I'm not sure if he had a genuine lack of interest in the piano specifically or if he couldn't get any playing time in because I was fascinated with the white and black keys. I was quickly playing music by ear. I would play these songs by ear over and over again until finally, my parents gave me piano lessons so I could finally learn some new songs to play in excess. Some assume my parents must be artistic with the way my brother and I turned out, but in actuality, the only "right brained" thing we could have possibly inherited was our love of music from our father. Perhaps, it was my parents influence, not inherited traits, that sparked this great love for the arts. I believe that the arts should not just be incorporated with learning but also pushed as a separate entity in schools. Despite lots of research praising the effects of art education on brain development, the arts are often the first programs to get cut when budgets get tight.

The following is an article published by North Dakota State University on the Keys To Enhancing Brain Development:

Question - What are the best activities for my children to engage in to enhance their overall brain development?

Children benefit from a variety of different activities. However, three critical activities that contribute considerably to overall brain development are music, art and physical activity.

First, music engages all aspects of the brain and stimulates multiple aspects of brain functioning. Children should be exposed often to many different kinds of music, but especially rhythm, rhyme, and repetition in music and songs.

Second, art engages a variety of the brain's areas that help children learn emotion, cognition and memory. Children should receive many opportunities to draw, paint, craft and create using different types of art.

Third, physical activity and movement help stimulate much brain growth and facilitate key connections for learning. Regular exercise and engagement in all varieties of physical activity are critical for healthy brain development in children.