Children are the future of tomorrow. To nurture and develop these bright minds, arts play a pivotal role.
Arts is a dominant subject in Nigeria which has a rich culture. From the traditional method of music and storytelling to the more modern style of visual and theatre arts, there are tons of rooms to explore.
The artistic landscape offers different opportunities for children to express themselves freely. It also helps to develop skills and contribute to the country’s cultural diversity.
Hereon, we will be highlighting the importance of arts in a child’s growth and how it can be nurtured using Nigeria as a case study.
The Role of Arts in Child Growth
Different benefits can be derived from awakening the artistic side of a child. The core benefits include fostering a sense of cultural identity, confidence and pride in themselves.
Below are some of the importance of arts in child development.
1. Improves Cognitive Growth
A kid who is encouraged to participate in art learns an important skill along the line. It helps such a child to develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Some of these artistic dimensions require key elements like attention to detail, memorisation, and even discipline. In hindsight, it is just like killing two birds with a stone.
2. Helps to Express Emotions
Participating in the arts helps your kid build character in that this approach offers a safe space where children can express their emotions and share experiences.
This is a very important activity that can help ease burdens and worries. It is a very good approach, especially for unique countries like Nigeria where we face a couple of socio-economic issues.
3. Boosts Social Skills
Not only can children improve their cognitive skills with arts, but they can also learn how to express emotions and become quite good at networking and having fun with friends and family.
While doing art projects, there are numerous real-life approaches to doing things that are leveraged. Group-centred activities like theatre productions often emphasise the importance of communication, empathy, and teamwork.
While dealing with the traditional or cultural heritage of arts, some areas must be mentioned. These traditional arts are capable of inspiring and engaging children simultaneously.
Some of these forms of art include:
- Music and dance
- Crafts
- Storytelling, etc.
In the same light, modern art expression is also gaining momentum among Nigerian children. These days, they enjoy literature, visual arts, theatre arts, and digital media. They are great additions to the conventional approach to art and also help to hone creativity and innovation for these kids.
Which Sectors Should Nurture These Talents?
Different sectors are thriving in the Nigerian economy. Some of them are responsible for nurturing artistic talents in Nigeria, as well as supporting them. They include:
- Educational Institutions: Schools play a vital role in helping children identify and build their artistic talent. Hence, they can create extracurricular programs that can provide particular training and opportunities for kids who are talented and fit to be called young artists. The educational sector is the most important place that can help develop this.
- Government: The government can help by infusing policies of establishing arts into the educational curriculum. This way, interested and talented kids get the chance to pursue and nurture their talent appropriately. For this to work, this sector needs to make funding and infrastructure available. Arts should be portrayed as something worth doing, not just an afterthought or a non-reliable area of concentration.
- Private Individuals: This includes private companies and philanthropists. They can help by offering sponsorships, grants, and even scholarships to different art programs. This way, children can acknowledge its significance and pursue their interests without the need to feel ashamed. These individuals can also help to organise competitions and exhibitions to showcase and discover young talents from time to time.
With these actions, children can feel less guilty about pursuing their artistic talents rather than going the typical route of being a Lawyer or Doctor. Indeed, these are noble professions. However, it is important to establish the fact that they are not superior or more significant than pursuing a dream as an artist and nurturing their creativity unapologetically.
As a country, Nigeria must accept and establish policies that benefit and support young artists. It is important to provide opportunities for artistic expression and support for young artists.
Note that this investment in arts is not just beneficial to the children in question, rather, it enriches the nation’s cultural landscape and contributes to its overall development to have talented and artistic kids that can represent the country around the globe.
It is time for Nigeria to foster a new generation of creative and art-aware individuals. Don’t you think so too?
