+ Children learn complex ideas and skills faster.

 

+ The “fun factor” improves participation and focus. This promotes joy, friendship, teamwork, and strengthens communication skills. 

 

+ Relaxing the traditional “boundaries” of art encourages freedom to create and innovate - this strengthens confidence and reduces anxiety and fear.

 

+ The power of abstract concepts such as meditation and “mindfulness” are better appreciated when combining movement such as yoga, dance, and Tai Chi with more traditional art activities such as drawing, music, sculpting and painting. A child's elastic brain intuitively absorbs this information and "connects the dots" between activities that might appear to be unrelated. By stretching their minds in many directions a new world of possibility is revealed.   

 

+ Art as therapy is especially necessary for children living in situations of poverty, neglect, and abuse.

 

+ The integration of arts helps children learn new techniques to cope with how they think and feel - this is an important step away from despair and toward a future of hope. 

 

+ Children understand that when they draw they are expressing something important: feelings, dreams, memories, fears, anxieties, desire. We can more completely understand a child’s need when we observe their creative activities.

 

+ Creative expression provides a voice for children who are often not given the chance to express complex feelings and fears. This newly discovered creative voice is an important foundation of art therapy.