Our schools are offering fewer and fewer opportunities for children to participate in the arts. Drama is long-gone from the daily curriculum and art projects are few and far between. And now even music programs are often on the chopping block to make way for the meat of today’s learning: math, science and reading.

I’m all for academic excellence, but I also understand that music, dance, dramatic play and other artistic endeavors open the door to skills that complement the core subjects. Engaging in activities in which there are multiple ways to proceed and which use primarily right brain functions help balance learning.

Children naturally love creative arts. The process of creating is motivating in itself. There isn’t one right answer to write on the line. Rather, children are given permission to explore, express themselves and create something unique. It’s good for kids.

But beyond the fun of painting, dance and acting in a skit, there are real skills gained that may surprise you. Here are some of them:

Physically: Children doing an art project gain fine motor skills. The acts of drawing with pencils or pens, holding a paintbrush or cutting with scissors hones accuracy of movement. They also develop keener spatial awareness.

Academically: Engaging in the arts enhances language and vocabulary knowledge. Children will add a whole new category of words related to the artistic world. They’ll also gain in critical thinking skills as they observe, describe, analyze and interpret a piece of art or a script. They’ll learn to judge the quality of a piece of art or a musical performance. Studies have even shown that children who have greater exposure to the arts get better grades in school and perform better on academic tests.

Socially/Emotionally: Children develop a sense of the vast diversity in our world via the arts. They’ll build cultural awareness and understand multiple points of view. They’ll also learn to collaborate when they sing with a chorus or act in a play.

Providing experiences for your children in the fine arts can be as simple as supplying an art corner in your family room or singing songs at bedtime. But you may be inspired to visit local art museums, take in local musical and dance performances. Get artsy with it and watch your children grow and bloom.