Get Involved in the Arts!
Spring is an excellent time to get involved with youth in arts activities. Before the warm summer months arrive, the arts offer many indoor opportunities for adults and young people to spend constructive, quality time together.
| Why Are the Arts Important? |
| The arts help young people:
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- Develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- Learn discipline and commitment
- Build teamwork and cooperation skills
- Learn how to set goals
- Improve their self-esteem
- Develop a sense of personal pride
- Experience success and recognition for their accomplishments
- Increase their motivation to stay in school
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| These skills give young people the tools they need to make healthy choices and stay drug free.
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The Arts: It's More Than Just Drawing and Painting
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The arts include not only the visual arts, such as drawing and painting, but also dance, music, drama, and creative writing. There are lots of fun and constructive art activities that you can do with children. Here are some ideas: |
- Teach a child how to play the piano.
- Lead a youth choir.
- Teach a child how to use a camera.
- Go to an art museum together.
- Teach a child how to knit.
- Learn a computer graphics program together.
- Take a painting class together.
- Teach a child calligraphy.
- Draw chalk pictures on the sidewalk together.
- Learn how to make pottery together.
- Teach a child how to waltz.
- Take a child to a free outdoor concert.
- Write poetry for each other.
- Listen to each other's favorite music.
- Go country line dancing together.
- Make a collage together.
- Teach a child how to play the guitar.
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- Take a child to a play.
- Go to a storytelling festival together.
- Teach a child how to read music.
- Take an acting class together.
- Work together on a quilt.
- Learn how to tap dance together.
- Take a child to a ballet.
- Write funny limericks for each other.
- Make greeting cards together.
- Fill jars with colored sand to make sand art.
- Script and shoot a video together.
- Make jewelry with beads and fishing line.
- Go to the symphony together.
- Make paper bag or sock puppets together and organize a puppet. show
- Teach a child how to sew.
- Design a flower or herb garden together.
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| Did You Know That Reading, Writing, and Math Skills Can Be Enhanced Through the Arts? |
| The arts have been proven to help young people develop academic skills. Music, dance, and the visual arts help increase learning in such areas as reading, writing, and math. Drawing helps develop writing skills. Songs and poetry make facts memorable and improve retention. Drama makes history more vivid and real. These academic skills strengthen young people's resiliency and help reduce the likelihood that they will become involved with alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. |
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"Young people who are involved in making something beautiful today are less likely to turn to acts of violence and destruction tomorrow."
—Janet Reno, U.S. Attorney General |
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To Learn More About Why the Arts Are an Important Part
of Substance Abuse Prevention:
Need More Ideas?
Here Are Some Great Art Activities You Can Do With Children:
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