4 Ways the Arts Can Support Success for Children with Learning Disabilities

When you encourage your kids to explore the world of the arts, you are giving them more than a hobby. You’re giving them the ability to build confidence, expand their imagination, value feedback, and learn how to work on a team. For children with learning disabilities, exploring the arts also helps with steadying their focus and expressing themselves non-verbally. Plus, these activities are just plain fun! Help your child channel their emotions, flex their creative muscles, and build skills that can help them succeed in school. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Music Lessons

Playing an instrument is a great way for kids who learn differently than others to build skills. For instance, children diagnosed with ADHD can strengthen their ability to focus by learning through rhythm. For kids on the autism spectrum, music offers a healthy way to express joy, fear, anger, and frustration while giving them tools to build social skills without pressure or discomfort.

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Visual Arts

Painting, drawing and other artistic endeavors help with abstract thinking and critical problem solving. Kids with learning disabilities can explore their emotions through art by expressing their feelings in healthy ways. Art can be an invaluable hobby that will give them a healthy outlet for navigating the complex world of being a child or teen with a learning disability.

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Dance

Especially for kids who struggle with hyperactivity, dance is a great option for diving into the arts. It builds memorization and attention skills, and it’s a great way to burn off pent-up energy that might otherwise lead to frustration or anxiety.

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Community Theater

Theater is a great way to help children build their confidence by performing in front of an engaged audience. If your child doesn’t want to be in the spotlight, their talents can still shine backstage by making costumes, painting sets, or controlling a show’s lighting and sound.

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Picking up a hobby in the arts is a huge intellectual and emotional boost for any child. But for kids diagnosed with a learning disability, the arts can be a place where they learn more about themselves and the world around them. They are given tools that can help them succeed at school, at home, and with friends.The Digging Deep Project is dedicated to helping young people gain access to tools that can build emotional strength.

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The Digging Deep Project is honored to work with guest authors with a passion for useful information, storytelling and connection with the community of people who care about young people going through tough times. This article is by Marie Villeza of elderimpact.org. To learn more about publishing with the Digging Deep project, please get in touch with our blog manager, Garth.