The arts are for everyone, although we may enjoy them in different ways. A child with learning disabilities can greatly benefit from art activities, whether they involve creating, participating, or observing. Reinforcing other classroom lessons with art activities is a powerful way to increase retention of the material. Particularly for a child who struggles academically, it’s important to have some fun endeavors that bring joy and build confidence. If you’re looking to help your child expand their horizons through the arts, here are some great tips to share.
Music and Dance
Most kids enjoy some type of movement. Dancing can enhance self-expression, motor skills, rhythm skills, and the ability to follow directions, which is particularly important for children with learning disabilities. Music goes hand in glove with dancing and can help with cognitive ability, spatial relations, IQ, and even language development. The benefits of learning to play a musical instrument can extend to classroom achievement as it has been documented to help with reading and math skills, as well as memory and perseverance.
Other Performance Arts
Acting in plays, singing, dancing, playwriting, story-telling, improvisation, and stand-up comedy can all help to increase a child’s confidence, and there is also evidence that they can improve academic performance. If your child isn’t interested in performing on stage, they might enjoy watching plays or helping with costumes, scenery, or props.
Painting and Drawing
Drawing and painting can help develop fine motor skills, concentration, and confidence. They can also be wonderful outlets for self-expression. Many children already enjoy drawing, so increased time with crayons, pencils, and paper may be an easy sell. Letting them try other mediums, such as pastels, various types of paint, and charcoal drawing pencils will add to the appeal.
Crafts
Creating objects with three dimensions has a great appeal for many children. Whether they are building a birdhouse, working with modeling clay, or folding origami, crafts are a wonderful way to develop problem-solving skills as well as spatial relations ability. You might consider devoting a room in your home to arts and crafts. Having a special place to work on projects and store the needed supplies can be helpful.
Show Them How It’s Done by Starting a Business
Your own participation and enthusiasm in projects involving the arts will be a huge selling point with your child, so be sure to get involved yourself, and share with them what you enjoy about the activity. You may find that you enjoy the process enough that you’d like to teach lessons to others, beyond your own children. If you decide to create your own teaching business, consider forming a limited liability corporation, or LLC. Forming an LLC has a number of benefits: It can help streamline paperwork, has tax advantages, and can protect your assets by separating the business finances from the rest of your money. Simplify the process by working with a reputable formation service. Before choosing a service, read reviews on the best LLC services.
Exposure is a Great Way to Begin
While you may already be aware that your child is more of a visual, auditory, or kinetic learner, it’s a good idea to let them choose the art or arts they would enjoy most. Exposure is key, so be sure to create opportunities for them to see plays and art exhibits, listen to music, and try their hand at various crafts. Going to a music store where they can see and handle various instruments is a good idea, too. While they may enjoy several types of activities, it will likely be easy to see what they want to do most. Incorporating the arts into your child’s life can be done gradually, in ways that seem more like fun than studying. They’ll be having fun while developing critical skills that will benefit them in the regular classroom. You may also enjoy the process and want to be a part of it in an ongoing way. You may even have the opportunity to start an art-related business!
Music and Dance
Most kids enjoy some type of movement. Dancing can enhance self-expression, motor skills, rhythm skills, and the ability to follow directions, which is particularly important for children with learning disabilities. Music goes hand in glove with dancing and can help with cognitive ability, spatial relations, IQ, and even language development. The benefits of learning to play a musical instrument can extend to classroom achievement as it has been documented to help with reading and math skills, as well as memory and perseverance.
Other Performance Arts
Acting in plays, singing, dancing, playwriting, story-telling, improvisation, and stand-up comedy can all help to increase a child’s confidence, and there is also evidence that they can improve academic performance. If your child isn’t interested in performing on stage, they might enjoy watching plays or helping with costumes, scenery, or props.
Painting and Drawing
Drawing and painting can help develop fine motor skills, concentration, and confidence. They can also be wonderful outlets for self-expression. Many children already enjoy drawing, so increased time with crayons, pencils, and paper may be an easy sell. Letting them try other mediums, such as pastels, various types of paint, and charcoal drawing pencils will add to the appeal.
Crafts
Creating objects with three dimensions has a great appeal for many children. Whether they are building a birdhouse, working with modeling clay, or folding origami, crafts are a wonderful way to develop problem-solving skills as well as spatial relations ability. You might consider devoting a room in your home to arts and crafts. Having a special place to work on projects and store the needed supplies can be helpful.
Show Them How It’s Done by Starting a Business
Your own participation and enthusiasm in projects involving the arts will be a huge selling point with your child, so be sure to get involved yourself, and share with them what you enjoy about the activity. You may find that you enjoy the process enough that you’d like to teach lessons to others, beyond your own children. If you decide to create your own teaching business, consider forming a limited liability corporation, or LLC. Forming an LLC has a number of benefits: It can help streamline paperwork, has tax advantages, and can protect your assets by separating the business finances from the rest of your money. Simplify the process by working with a reputable formation service. Before choosing a service, read reviews on the best LLC services.
Exposure is a Great Way to Begin
While you may already be aware that your child is more of a visual, auditory, or kinetic learner, it’s a good idea to let them choose the art or arts they would enjoy most. Exposure is key, so be sure to create opportunities for them to see plays and art exhibits, listen to music, and try their hand at various crafts. Going to a music store where they can see and handle various instruments is a good idea, too. While they may enjoy several types of activities, it will likely be easy to see what they want to do most. Incorporating the arts into your child’s life can be done gradually, in ways that seem more like fun than studying. They’ll be having fun while developing critical skills that will benefit them in the regular classroom. You may also enjoy the process and want to be a part of it in an ongoing way. You may even have the opportunity to start an art-related business!
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