When I was asked why music and arts programs are a vital part of our children’s education, I remembered a video I recently saw of Barack Obama speaking to a school group in Wallingford, PA:

Obama summed up my feelings quite nicely:

Part of what arts education does is it teaches people to see through each other’s eyes. It teaches us to respect and understand people who are not like us. That makes us better citizens and makes our democracy work better.

What’s so funny ’bout peace, love and understanding?

He’s talking about empathy, and Obama’s not the only one advocating using art education programs to do this. In a 2006 Lancet essay, Development of children’s creativity to foster peace, Dr. Ashfaq Ishaq wrote:

The arts can aid a child’s holistic development, especially empathy… A RAND study noted that the communicative and personal nature of creative expression, accentuated through collective arts activities, can forge social bonds while supporting identity formation and cultural transmission.

By teaching empathy through music and art programs, we give our children the skills to succeed and live peacefully in a diverse world.

The arts also promote academic achievement

Did you know that children who receive art and music education are more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, win an award for school attendance, participate in a math or science fair, or be elected to a school class office? Children who actively engaged in the arts are more likely to read for pleasure or perform community service, too, according to a study conducted by Stanford University and Carnegie Foundation For the Advancement of Teaching, Americans for the Arts.

Yes, reading, writing and arithmetic are important, but as Obama said, “Kids whose imaginations are sparked by the arts are more engaged in school.” An engaged child is a successful one both academically and socially. That is why it is important to make sure your school district places an emphasis on academic achievement by supporting art and music programs as part of the curriculum and as extracurricular activities.

Bringing the arts into your child’s life

Not only is arts education important in school, it’s important to bring it into the home to spend time enjoying the arts as a family. Here’s how:

• Attend cultural festivals and learn about different cultures through their music, dance, dress and food.
• Visit art galleries and museums.
• Go to the library and check out art books and CDs.
• Turn off the TV and listen to music during family meals.
• Make sure your child has ready access to art supplies – paper, pens, crayons, modeling clay, scissors, glue, beads, feathers, etc. Even if you aren’t artistic, you can doodle, paint or color with your child.
• Attend concerts, theater, and music and art festivals.
• Support initiatives that bring arts to your school, whether it’s helping to get a band started or volunteering to help the drama teacher put on a musical.
• Enroll your child in band, piano lessons, dance or martial arts.
• Encourage them to join a church choir or community youth drama group.

Supporting the arts does not have to be expensive. Many museums offer free days and reduced rates for children and seniors. Many children’s museums offer hands on art activities as well that are free or have nominal fees as well.

Check your Friday paper to find family family friendly concerts and plays in your community. Many are free or affordable.

Activities and resources

• The When May Met Andy art activity helps children model empathy and break down stereotypes. This activity uses an episode of the Scholastic show, Maya & Miguel, on PBS
• Supporting the Arts: Why it’s important to connect to the creative side of school by Cara Pitterman at Scholastic Parents magazine
• Make Sure Your Child Gets an Arts Education by Sarah Hutter at Scholastic Parents magazine
• Citizens of the World: How to raise a child who appreciates, respects, and enjoys the diversity of life by Louise Boyle Swiniarski PhD at Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine
• Americans for the Arts website
• Helpful guide on exercises in grammar and writing by a site that reviews online school programs

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