Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Year : 2, Issue: 16
by Sayedur Rahman
In today’s digital age, young kids are becoming increasingly consumed by technological devices. They spend more time playing games or engaging with social media than exploring the wonders of real life. This trend is pulling children further away from activities like drawing and painting, with many parents neglecting to encourage such pursuits. Instead, the virtual world of electronic devices has become a dominant influence, fostering addiction that diminishes their ability to think critically and create something meaningful. Hours spent staring at screens leave little time for self-reflection, exploration of nature, or understanding life’s deeper purposes, resulting in a sense of monotony.
Children are missing out on the joy of mixing colors on a palette and the transformative experience of creative activities like drawing and painting. These endeavors profoundly impact their development, giving them the freedom to think imaginatively. When children draw, they turn their ideas into tangible forms, learning to confront challenges, erase mistakes, and solve problems along the way. This process sharpens their observation skills, enabling them to perceive nuances in nature—light, shade, perspective, atmosphere, and texture—while fostering an understanding of patterns, rhythms, and the interplay of light and shadow.
The differences between virtual and real experiences are vast. In the virtual world, false representations can mislead children, while real-life experiences provide authentic insights. For example, touching, smelling, and observing a rose in nature offers a richness that cannot be replicated by merely viewing an image on a screen. Drawing that rose becomes an exercise in capturing its essence, informed by a sensory connection that the virtual realm cannot offer. This tangible engagement allows children to make decisions—whether to cherish or discard the rose—fostering a deeper connection to their environment.
Art serves as a bridge to real-world experiences, grounding children in creative thinking and enhancing their connection to humanity and the natural world. It inspires curiosity about life’s mysteries and cultivates an appreciation for the tangible beauty of existence, counterbalancing the isolating effects of excessive screen time.
As a Bangladeshi artist living in New York, I have witnessed how immigrant families often prioritize academic achievements and religious practices over creative endeavors. While religion provides spiritual guidance, art nurtures cognitive, emotional, and social growth. Unfortunately, many children in these communities lack exposure to artistic education, as art is often dismissed as impractical. However, art is far from frivolous—it is a powerful tool for fostering creativity and developing a child’s potential beyond academic or religious frameworks.
My journey reflects a lifelong commitment to art and education. After graduating in Fine Arts from Dhaka University in Bangladesh, I received a Japanese government scholarship to study art education for elementary school children. This experience deepened my understanding of how creative expression shapes young minds. Upon returning to Bangladesh, I taught at art colleges, schools, and universities, and later, I expanded my teaching career in Oman, where I nurtured students’ creativity for several years. After moving to the United States, I conducted an art workshop at Ozone Park Elementary School, receiving enthusiastic responses from children.
Currently, I run “Chitro Art Center, INC.” in New York, a space dedicated to teaching art and fostering creativity among children. Through this organization, I aim to empower young minds to explore their potential, cultivate imagination, and build a brighter future for the next generation. Creative expression is not just an activity—it is a gateway to understanding ourselves, our communities, and the world around us. By prioritizing art in children’s lives, we can guide them toward a more thoughtful, engaged, and meaningful existence.
1. Emotional Expression and Self-Discovery
Art provides a unique outlet for emotional expression, allowing children to process and communicate their feelings in ways that words often cannot. This is particularly important in immigrant communities, where children may face the challenge of navigating multiple cultures and identities. Art allows them to explore their inner worlds and external experiences—whether it’s the feeling of displacement, the joy of belonging, or the complexities of their dual cultural identity. Through colors, shapes, and forms, children can express emotions that might otherwise remain unspoken. This process of self-discovery not only nurtures emotional intelligence but also fosters a strong sense of personal identity.
2. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills
Art is inherently a problem-solving activity. Whether it’s deciding how to represent an idea visually, overcoming challenges with proportions, or solving compositional dilemmas, art engages the mind in complex ways. Immigrant children, often already faced with challenges in adapting to a new culture and environment, can benefit from this creative problem-solving process. Art encourages flexibility, critical thinking, and the ability to approach problems from multiple angles—skills that are essential not only in school but also in navigating life’s challenges. By engaging with art, children develop resilience, learning that mistakes are not setbacks, but opportunities for growth and innovation.
3. Fine Motor Development and Coordination
Creating art involves fine motor skills—activities like drawing, painting, and sculpting help children refine their hand-eye coordination and develop dexterity. These skills are foundational for many other activities in life, including writing, typing, and even playing musical instruments. In a community where the focus may often be on academic excellence or religious practice, encouraging children to engage in art offers them a different kind of skillset that complements their broader development.
4. Enhanced Observational Skills and Attention to Detail
Art sharpens children’s observational skills, teaching them to see the world in new ways. By studying objects in nature or human subjects, children learn to recognize patterns, colors, proportions, and subtle details that they might otherwise overlook. This deeper engagement with the world fosters a sense of curiosity, helping children connect with their environment in a meaningful way. For immigrant families adjusting to life in a new country, art can help children develop a more profound sense of place, providing a bridge between their past experiences and the world they now inhabit.
5. Cultivating Creativity and Innovation
Creativity is not just about making something beautiful; it is about thinking outside the box, questioning norms, and developing new solutions to problems. In an era where technological and social change occurs at an accelerating pace, the ability to think creatively is increasingly valuable. Art offers children the freedom to experiment and innovate, helping them develop the kind of mindset that will allow them to thrive in an ever-changing world. For children in immigrant communities, art can be a powerful tool for self-expression, allowing them to navigate and synthesize their cultural heritage and the influences of their new environment.
6. Building Confidence and a Sense of Accomplishment
The act of creating art gives children a tangible sense of accomplishment. They can look at a finished piece and recognize that it reflects their effort, creativity, and unique perspective. Unlike the often linear and goal-oriented approach to education and religion, art values the process as much as the product. This sense of pride in one’s work can significantly boost a child’s confidence and self-esteem. For immigrant children who may struggle with language barriers or cultural adaptation, art can be an equalizer, offering a way for them to express themselves in a language that transcends words.
7. Fostering Social Interaction and Collaboration
Art can also be a social activity, encouraging collaboration and teamwork. Group art projects, whether at school, in community centers, or at home, foster important social skills such as communication, compromise, and collective problem-solving. For children in immigrant communities, these collaborative experiences are an opportunity to connect with peers from different backgrounds, building bridges of understanding and empathy through shared creative endeavors. Art, therefore, becomes a means of social integration, helping children develop a sense of belonging and community.
8. Mindfulness and Stress Relief
In a fast-paced, technology-driven world, art offers children an opportunity for mindfulness—an intentional focus on the present moment. The act of drawing or painting allows children to slow down, clear their minds, and engage in a meditative process. This can be particularly beneficial in communities where children may experience stress due to the pressures of adapting to a new culture, language, and environment. Art provides a therapeutic outlet, helping children manage their emotions and reduce anxiety.
9. Promoting Cultural Awareness and Global Understanding
As a Bangladeshi artist living in New York, I recognize the importance of art in connecting cultures. Art exposes children to a wide array of artistic traditions and cultural expressions, broadening their understanding of the world. For children in immigrant communities, art can act as both a means of preserving their cultural heritage and a way to engage with the broader, multicultural society they now live in. Art creates a space for dialogue between different cultural perspectives, fostering empathy, appreciation, and respect for diversity.
Conclusion: The Vital Role of Art in Children’s Development
In communities where the emphasis is often placed on religious practice, academic achievement, and social conformity, art provides a necessary counterbalance. While these areas are crucial, they cannot alone nurture the full potential of a child. Art offers a space for children to explore their creativity, express their emotions, and develop important life skills that support personal and academic success. For immigrant families, art also provides a means of connecting to both the culture they’ve left behind and the new world they’re navigating.
By integrating art into children’s lives—whether through formal education or informal creative activities—parents and communities can help foster a generation of thinkers, innovators, and empathetic individuals. As we look to the future, it is essential to recognize that creativity is not a luxury, but a necessity—one that can empower children to not only adapt to a rapidly changing world but to shape it in meaningful ways.
