Kidzu

Why Kids Are Quitting Sports

Doug

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June 13, 2017

In 2008, 45 percent of kids ages 6-12 played a team sport. Today, that figure is less than 37 percent. By 13, more than 70 percent of kids quit, a troubling trend for a nation already dealing with epidemics in childhood obesity, diabetes, drug abuse, poor academic performance, etc. Let’s look at why kids are quitting sports and what, if anything, can be done to combat it.

A variety of research and studies have found that the free fall in youth sports is related to a number of factors, including:

No Longer Fun

This one tops most lists. The simple fact is, more and more kids aren’t finding any fun in sports. Pressure from coaches and parents alike combined with a culture that likens sports to combat has drained the enjoyment from what are supposed to be games.

Bad Coaching

Coaches are the other list-topper. Kids and parents alike complain about coaches who don’t know what they’re doing, play favorites, are overzealous (or even cruel) routinely rank among the top reasons kids bail out.

Specialization

Numerous studies have singed out this trend as particularly troubling, and not just for its impact on participation rates. With coaches and parents encouraging kids to focus exclusively on one sport (and investing heavily in specialized training at younger and younger ages), the ‘ordinary’ kids who might have filled the ranks of a team no longer fit in (or don’t have the income to compete on a level playing field – see Cost).

Cost

The rapid growth in youth clubs has resulted in the birth of an ‘up or out’ mentality, meaning kids either join pricey travel leagues and train year-round, or they are quickly edged out. “Sports in America have separated into sport-haves and have-nots,” says Tom Farrey, executive director of Aspen’s Sports & Society program. “All that matters is if kids come from a family that has resources. If you don’t have money, it’s hard to play.”

Stress

To some degree this ties in with the ‘no fun’ argument, but with a twist: often times the kids still enjoy the sport, but parents, coaches, and our culture at-large place so much pressure on results that kids become anxious and stressed-out. What is supposed to be a game that relieves stress has, instead, become one that adds to it.

How to Fix Youth Sports

Is there any good news in all of this? Yes, and no. On the bright side, many kids who bail out on team sports ultimately migrate toward activities that are better suited to them physically and temperamentally. While the so-called Big Four sports (baseball, basketball, football, and soccer have all experienced big losses), others have grown (lacrosse, tennis, ice hockey, and gymnastics).

Similarly, many kids move to other activities, including the arts, the outdoors, or simply spending more time with friend and family.

The downside, of course, is that many kids are at greater risk of health problems. They also miss out on many of the positives associated with sports, including stronger leadership and networking skills, improved academic performance, better relationships, etc.

Fortunately, the ongoing decline in youth sports is garnering attention all the way up to the professional ranks, where commissioners, coaches, athletic directors, and team owners are brainstorming ways to solve the problem.

For instance, the Aspen Institute’s Project Play 2020 is a multi-year effort to address and remedy many of these challenges. The group believes that increasing youth sports participation will offset tens of billions in healthcare costs associated with sedentary kids, not to mention economic productivity costs (healthy kids become healthy adults who are able to work, raise families, etc.).

The project’s goals include standardized training for coaches in order to weed out the bad ones who are chasing away kids; improved injury prevention training and concussion awareness; reducing specialization and increasing cross-sport participation; and leveling the economic playing field to ensure all kids, regardless of their socioeconomic background, can participate.

Why Specializing in One Sport is a Bad Idea

Sports & Athletics

Doug

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June 13, 2017

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Why Specializing in One Sport is a Bad Idea

A new study conclusively demonstrates that athletes who specialize in one sport are 70 percent more likely to suffer an injury during the season. They’re also more likely to burn out, to lose any sense of joy in participating, and to quit. All of which is why specializing in one sport is a bad idea.

Commissioned by the National Federation of High School Associations, the study adds still more ammunition to the argument kids should take time off from individual sports and/or also participate in different sports across the year rather than concentrate on just one.

Conducted by researchers at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Medicine and Public Health, the study focused on athletes who spent what was considered an inordinate amount of time on one sport – even to the detriment of relationships with family and friends. Declaring the study’s results as “striking,” the study’s authors found that specialized athletes suffered injuries at “significantly higher rates” than those who did not.

This is by no means the first such study to point to such problems. Every day it seems another study or media article emerges on the perils of single-sports stars.

In 2014 the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine issued its own report, noting that sports specialization was leading to injuries and burnout amongst its practitioners.
A study conducted by Ohio State University found that kids who specialized at one sport are less likely to be physically active as adults – indeed, these kids are often the first to quit.
Dr. Neeru Jayanthi of Loyola University found that early specialization in a single sport was the single best predictor of injury, with athletes 70-93% more likely to be injured than players who engage in multiple sports.

Of the 1,544 athletes studied in the Wisconsin study, 40 percent of the females and 29 percent of the men reported specializing in one sport with soccer being the most specialized sport. Nearly 60 percent of the injuries were ligament tears in knees and ankles.

Study author Tim McGuine said such injures are the direct result of over-training in one sport, a problem that is becoming more commonplace as pressures increase on athletes to excel at one sport lest they fall behind their competition.

specialized athletes suffered injuries at “significantly higher rates” than those who did not.

McGuine said specialized athletes who play and train year-round put more stress on specific muscle groups and their corresponding ligaments, tendons, and bones. The more the athletes practice and play, the greater the risk of injury.

“The more you play at any given activity the more likely you are to get hurt, just out of exposure,” said William Roberts, a practicing physician and professor of family medicine at the University of Minnesota. “If you play club and high school sports, you play 10 to 12 months out of the year, that might be an exposure issue. For kids who play club and high school at the same time, it might be a fatigue issue.”

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there regarding athletics. Many if not most athletes, along with their parents, believe specialization is critical if the kids are to go on and play at the collegiate level. But a 2013 study by the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine debunks that belief, noting that 88 percent of college athletes were multi-sport athletes before college.

So what’s the answer? Play different sports across the year, especially those that will work other muscle groups.

7 Traits of Highly Successful Coaches

Sports & Athletics

Kidzu

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June 13, 2017

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Across any given year tens of millions of kids take to playing fields, ballparks, and courts where they will fall under the guidance of more than 2.5 million coaches. It’s a vulnerable position for child and parent alike, so in this post we examine the 7 traits of highly successful coaches.

First, it’s important to note that most of these coaches are volunteers, have a vested interest (usually in the form of their own child’s participation), and are coaching for the first time. Second, only 10 percent of these coaches have received any formal training.

Not surprisingly, many parents are keen on finding coaches who not only will teach their kids how to play a particular sport, but also can be trusted to protect their kids against injury, treat them with respect, and perhaps pass along an important life lesson or two along the way.

For a player – for any human being – there is nothing better than hearing, ‘Well done.’ Those are the two best words ever invented.

As most who have played an organized sport know, a coach can have an enormous impact on a young psyche. The right coach teaches a child to overcome adversity, to ‘be a good sport’ in wins and losses, to treat opponents fairly and with respect, to develop confidence, and most of all, to enjoy the game for what it is – a game.

Unfortunately, poor coaching is considered one of the leading causes for why roughly 70% of kids abandon sports by the age of 13. Which is why we thought it best to provide parents with this guide to the 7 traits of highly successful coaches.

#1. Self Aware

While this could apply to just about any individual in any role, it’s particularly true for the coaches who wield authority, influence, and power over the powerless (i.e. children). Outstanding coaches are always working on themselves, are open to feedback, and recognize there are many ways to improve what they do.

#2. Excellent Communicators

The best coaches are outstanding communicators, and not just in big, motivational half-time speeches. These coaches are equally adept during practices, when, let’s face it, the truly important work is being accomplished. They’re clear on what they expect from kids so there are no surprises when it comes to game time. These coaches also tend to be direct and honest and in a way that brings out the best in kids – without demeaning them.

#3. Treat Kids as Individuals

Smart coaches recognize that the makeup and background of every child is different and, as such, that each player will respond differently. Bela Karolyi, whose gymnasts netted nine Olympic gold medals, noted that some of his girls, like Nadia Comaneci, were “like steel” while others, like Kerri Strug, were “timid.” Each became a champion, but had to be molded using different tactics.

#4. Constructive

Contrary to the bellicose, screaming coach so often portrayed in Hollywood films, the truth is that calm, collected coaches who employ positive feedback enjoy the greatest success. This is not to say that these coaches don’t shout or criticize a player. But when they do so, it’s constructive in nature. Sir Alex Ferguson, coach of Manchester United, echoed what behavioral psychologists long have known: that most humans respond to encouragement rather than criticism. “For a player – for any human being – there is nothing better than hearing, ‘Well done.’ Those are the two best words ever invented.”

#5. Playful and Pragmatic

According to numerous surveys, studies, and polls, the number one reason kids abandon sports is that it is no longer fun. And a key culprit in robbing the game of fun? Coaches (and parents). Good coaches are recognized as much for their ability to have fun as their competency and skill. If a coach never laughs during practices or games and, in particular, can’t laugh at him/herself, it’s best to look elsewhere. (Come to think of it, seems true for just about any relationship.)

#6. Competency and Skill

Ideally, a coach has genuine skills in the sport he or she is teaching. This doesn’t mean all coaches have to have played a game to coach it, but they certainly need to understand the sport, its rules, and tactics for participation and competing. The younger the age of the participant, the more important it is that the coach focus on teaching fundamentals. The older the kids, the more important the in-game strategic mindset.

#7. Fair

This is one of the most important qualities and also one of the most difficult to assess. Coaches often find themselves in something of a pickle when it comes to issues like playing time, in part because kids and parents alike want their teams to be competitive, and in part because some kids put in more time than others (i.e. they deserve more playing time because they make the effort, including make it to all the practices, work on fundamentals on their own time, and so on). Look for coaches who have a formula for playing time based on effort AND equality.

The bottom line: when it comes to picking a coach for your kid(s), do your best to ensure they possess as many of these traits as possible. Your child still may not end up a superstar or on a wining team. But he or she very likely will come away from the experience healthier and happier and grateful for the opportunity.

How Iceland Saved Its Youth

Doug

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June 13, 2017

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Over the past generation, Iceland underwent a remarkable transformation that saw its youth go from Europe’s biggest consumers of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes to its lowest. How Iceland saved its youth is a lesson plan for parents, educators, and legislators in the U.S. as well.

The story begins in 1992, when researchers in Iceland asked virtually every child between the ages of 14 and 16 to complete a survey on their drinking, smoking and drug habits. The results were shocking and a wakeup call to adults across the tiny island-nation.

Nearly one-in-four teens claimed to smoke daily and more than 40 percent admitted to being drunk during the previous month.

More revealing, however, was that researchers could predict the kids most at risk. The data clearly demonstrated that kids who were participating in organized activities, spent time with their parents, stayed home at night, and felt cared about at school were far less likely to engage in at-risk behaviors.

Common sense, yes, but with empirical evidence to support it.

PSAs No Match for the High

What was equally apparent was drug and alcohol awareness campaigns were ineffective. Kids were turning a blind eye and deaf ear to such warnings. Because the simple truth was and always has been, that teenaged brains are wiring themselves for dealing with stress in unique ways.

For some kids, the stress was a high they craved and, as such, they turned to specific activities to intensify such feelings. For others, the stress was something to be avoided, and as such they sought specific drugs to numb those feelings. In short, with few other options, the kids were using alcohol, drugs, sex, smoking, and petty crime to deal with biological impulses.

So what did Iceland do?

A Nationwide Call to Action

The campaign kicked off with a nationwide plan (Youth in Iceland) that, among other things:

Changed laws to making smoking before 18 and drinking before 20 illegal
Banned tobacco and alcohol advertising
Imposed a curfew prohibiting kids 13-16 from being out past 10 during the school year and midnight in the summer

Funding was provided by the state to create new clubs for sports, music, art, theater, dance, martial arts, etc., providing kids with healthy, natural, and more positive alternatives to dealing with their stresses. So, for example, a child who thrived on stress might join a sports group where another, more introverted type, might seek an artistic pursuit

Equally important was a renewed focus on adult participation in and commitment to these clubs. Training and networking sessions were created to better help both club managers and parents alike to understand and work with kids. Parents were encouraged to sign agreements outlining steps they personally would take to help their kids.

A Huge Success

Have these efforts worked? Big time.

For starters, the percentage of 15- and 16-year-olds claiming to have gotten drunk over the preceding month dropped from 42 percent in 1998 to just 5 percent in 2016. At the same time, marijuana use dropped from 17 percent to 7 percent and smoking plummeted from 23 percent to just 3 percent.

Why the success? Back to our old friend, common sense. The kids have healthy alternatives; they’re more engaged with their parents and other adults; this nationwide commitment demonstrates to the kids that they matter; and the adults in their lives are provided with improved skills for dealing with kids.

Can it Work in the U.S.?

Researchers are quick to note that Iceland’s tiny population of roughly 335,000 people is no comparison to the U.S. and its 325,000,000 people. Implementing a campaign across a nation that barely equals a single mid-sized U.S. city is a relative cakewalk.

That said, however, the U.S. has resources a nation like Iceland scarcely can imagine. But more important than that, these campaigns ultimately must start at home, with parents. As the Iceland study showed, a commitment by the adults closest to the kids – parents, educators, club volunteers – are the key to success.

Read more about the Iceland youth program here.

Why Theatre is Great for Kids

Theatre

Kidzu

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June 13, 2017

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It’s a challenge all too familiar to parents. A child, usually though not always a son, who is quiet, socially withdrawn, more likely to follow than carve out his own path. Ironically, this is where the stage comes in and why theatre is great for kids.

In Hollywood-speak, we might call these kids ‘the Outsiders,’ kids live spend so much time on the periphery we often don’t even know they’re there. They aren’t bad kids nor do they hail from troubled homes – they’re simply shyer than most.

Unfortunately, research shows that these kids are more likely to struggle:

Academically
Developing meaningful relationships
Finding fulfilling jobs and careers

For one reason or another, these kids have never found their voice. And while it may seem counter-intuitive or even cruel to nudge these kids toward theatre, it turns out that this may be precisely what they need (and actually want).

Using the Arts to Find Personal Expression

First, the good news. Children who participate in the arts (music, theater, dance, painting, etc.) are far more likely to become confident, perform well in academics, and suffer from lower rates of anxiety and depression. The sooner they start, the better the results.

When kids walk in the door they feel accepted, they feel welcomed, and the kids that have more experience help the kids that have less experience.

(It should be noted that cultural exploration – visiting museums, attending plays, listening to live music – can have a similarly positive impact on kids.)

In a landmark study of Irish children by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), researchers found that a child’s participation in the arts and/or cultural activities proved to be a powerful indicator of his or her subsequent feelings of confidence, wellbeing and happiness. The study “clearly demonstrates a strong correlation between participation in arts and cultural activities and a child’s wellbeing,” said Orlaith McBride, director of ESRI’s Arts Council.

Says 17-year-old Marie Lynch of her time with the Backstage Youth Theatre: “Not only have I gained so many friends who are like-minded and enjoy theatre like me, but I have also grown as a person. I’m not the same shy girl anymore. I’m now confident in my thoughts and opinions. I have learned how to express myself and share my ideas.”

Boys Are Under-Represented

Unfortunately for boys, many of the same cultural biases that once led parents and educators to unconsciously steer more boys than girls toward sports, plays out in precisely the opposite way when it comes to the arts, where even at a very young age girls are far more likely to be guided toward the arts.

Though not mentioned in the study, such gender imbalances could exacerbate the growing disparity between boys’ and girls’ educational accomplishments. Today, for example, females tend to perform better in school and are increasingly more likely to attend and graduate from universities.

One potential reason boys are less likely to participate in the arts: their language skills often lag those of their female counterparts. Additionally, many cultures (as noted above) mistakenly believe the arts are more ‘feminine’ pursuits. As a result of these and other issues, boys may be more shy about expressing themselves or putting themselves ‘out there’ for critical review.

But as Tom McEvilly, co-educational director of Wisconsin’s Children’s Theater, points out: “Theater is an interesting entity. When kids walk in the door they feel accepted, they feel welcomed, and the kids that have more experience help the kids that have less experience.”

And for the shy or self-conscious kids? “They are helped by the kids that are not so shy, and they feel that instant responsibility and bond of being kind to others that are trying to walk through this environment and they do really well,” says McEvilly.

So if your child is one of those ‘peripheral’ types, remember that the arts are a terrific way to help him or her bring forth that inner voice and discover for themselves that, introverted or extroverted, shy or confident, their voice matters as much as the next.

5 Ways Painting Helps Kids

Kidzu

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June 20, 2017

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Albert Einstein maintained that a creative imagination was “more important than knowledge,” and, alternatively, that “creativity is intelligence having fun.” Perhaps nowhere is a child’s imagination liberated more than with a palette of colors and a brush. It is safe to say that painting liberates children.

Picasso believed that every child is born an artist and that adults and the adult world drain all of that creativity out of them. Which is why the arts in general and painting in particular are such critical pursuits for children. Here are 5 ways painting helps kids.

Fosters Creativity

While this might seem like a duh statement, children actually need tools to help them develop and express their innate creativity. Paint’s endless hues, a handful of brushes, and a blank canvas are ideal instruments for unleashing a child’s creative spirit. And because younger children in particular are not even remotely self-conscious about the end result of their efforts, painting enables them to repeatedly experiment with different creative interpretations of themselves and the world around them.

creativity is intelligence having fun

Problem Solving

While a child’s paint splatters and swooshes are unintelligible to adults, they actually represent critical paths of learning. Color combinations, brush sizes and strokes, angles and curves, even canvas size and type, all teach children how vastly different expressions of the same internal ideas can be brought to life. “If they are exploring and thinking and experimenting and trying new ideas, then creativity has a chance to blossom,” says MaryAnn Kohl, an arts educator and author of numerous books about children’s art education.

Motor Skills

Few childhood practices hone fine motor skills quite the way painting does. From the way a child holds a brush (or crayon, chalk, etc.) and the pressure applied, to the angles of motion and attempts to convey a particular object or scene, painting is ideal for helping kids fine tune their motor skills.

Academic Success

There is a growing body of research demonstrating that kids who engage in the arts perform better academically than their non-artistic counterparts, and they’re less likely to drop out of school. Research by the Americans for the Arts found that kids who engage in art study at least three hours a day for three days a week are:

4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement
3 times as likely to be elected to a class office
4 times more likely to participate in a math or science fair
3 times more likely to win an attendance award
4 times more likely to be recognized for an essay of poem

Visualization

We obviously live in a world dominated by imagery, which is why it is more important than ever for children to master the kinds of visual-spatial skills that go into both the interpretation and understanding of imagery as well as its creation. “Parents need to be aware that children learn a lot more from graphic sources now than in the past,” says Dr. Kerry Freedman, director of Art and Design Education at Northern Illinois University. “Children need to know more about the world than just what they can learn through text and numbers. Art education teaches students how to interpret, criticize, and use visual information, and how to make choices based on it.”

The bottom line: kids are better off if they’re engaged in painting (or any form of art for that matter).

Your Child's Brain on Music

Music

Doug

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June 20, 2017

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This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Popular ideas, such as the “Mozart effect” – the idea that listening to classical music improves intelligence – has encouraged the belief that “music makes you smarter”.

This interest in the relationship between musical aptitude on ability and intelligence has been around for some time. But despite these beliefs being pretty widespread, there is still no conclusive evidence to actually prove that listening to certain types of music really can improve your intelligence.

In 1974, music researchers Desmond Sergeant and Gillian Thatcher said that:

All highly intelligent people are not necessarily musical, but all highly musical people are apparently highly intelligent.

And apparently is the key word here, because the evidence regarding musical listening in itself is mixed. Research has shown that listening to music shows an improvement in certain kinds of mental tasks. But these are specifically short-term improvements involving “spatial-temporal reasoning” skills – puzzle solving type tasks.

Listening vs playing

But while listening to music is all well and good, what about actually playing it? Research that focuses on how or if playing a musical instrument can impact on intelligence, often looks at how learning in one area can lead to improvements in other areas – an idea known as “transfer effects”.

This is the idea that learning to play the violin, or the drums, could help children to do better in their spellings or a science project. And this is in part the reason why some parents naturally encourage their children to learn an instrument – because of a belief that it will in some way make them more intelligent.

While some studies have shown how musical training can shape brain development. And that improvements in small motor skills and general intelligence have been linked to musical training. A recent review suggests that actual evidence supporting this idea of “transfer effects” is limited at present.

But despite these finds, there is still a wealth of evidence suggesting musical learning is beneficial. And with this in mind, drawing from my experience as a professional musician (drummer), music teacher and performing artist, I decided to investigate the effects of individual musical instrument learning on aspects of cognitive and behavioural development.

I also looked at the impact on “socio-emotional” development, which includes the child’s experience, expression, and management of emotions, as well as the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others.

All highly intelligent people are not necessarily musical, but all highly musical people are apparently highly intelligent.

All the children who took part in the study had typical school group music lessons, but half of them had also chosen to learn an instrument individually for the first time that year.

The results showed that children who had started individual music lessons developed a better awareness of their “aim” and “force” in relation to their own motor skills as well as improving their “fluid intelligence” – which is the ability to solve new problems, use logic in new situations, and identify patterns.

This suggests that musical instrument learning encourages the development of a physical sense of self in relation to the how we use objects in the world around us, as well as developing a specific kind of intelligence that is used in problem solving.

Music and social development

As part of my research, I also wanted to understand whether parents and teachers noticed any changes over the year in terms of the children’s socio-emotional well-being. The results showed that the children who had chosen to learn an instrument were considered by both their parents and teachers to be less anxious than those who had received only group lessons.

These children were also thought to internalise their problems less compared to the children who had only received the group sessions.

Music can help children to develop skills such as nonverbal communications. Pexels.
This is also reflected in my research looking at adult musicians, who explained that the “social structures” surrounding musical learning are the bits that they most appreciate, and have had the biggest impact on their lives.

This includes the opportunities to travel, the exchanges of culture among friends around the world, and their ongoing ability to be foster creativity in their lives through music.

Musical learning

It is clear then that music can have a big role to play when it comes to children’s learning. Not necessarily just in terms of intelligence, but also in term of their physical development and social well-being.

Research also shows how musical learning can help children to apply themselves, as well supporting the processes involved in teamwork and appreciation of working towards shared goals.

Valuing music education includes nurturing the development of these abilities, and these skills and mindsets. Which is why developing a culture of creativity and musical learning in our schools should be a key part of children’s lives.

Instilling Rather than Killing Creativity in Kids

Doug

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October 4, 2017

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Instilling Rather than Killing Creativity in Kids

In his wildly popular TED talk, “Do schools kill creativity,” Sir Ken Robinson argues that the adult world needs to reimagine the educational process so that we are instilling rather than killing creativity in kids. Picasso, said Robinson, believed all kids were born artists until adults drained it out of them.

Or in one of our favorite quotes, psychologist Erik Erickson notes that: “You see a child play, and it is so close to seeing an artist paint, for in play a child says things without uttering a word. You can see how he solves his problems. You can also see what’s wrong. Young children, especially, have enormous creativity, and whatever’s in them rises to the surface in free play.”

Given that all of us – parents, coaches, counselors, teachers – are tasked with preparing our children for the future, it is incumbent on us to ensure that creativity is part of the extracurricular curriculum. Meaning that even if our child prefers sports, it is important, too, that we encourage him to consider art or dance or theatre. And, similarly, if our child favors painting, that we remind her of the creative potential of sport.

Research shows that truly creative people tend to be idea factories

Being the highly subjective topic that it is, finding definitive ways to foster creativity in kids is no easy task. And truth be told, there are tons of lists out there already. So we thought it best to be, uh, creative in our pursuit of creativity. Herewith, 5 non-intuitive steps to instilling creativity in kids.

Ask What If?

To inspire creative thinking in kids, author Matt Richtel – he of Runaway Booger fame – uses “what if?” as a kind of “secret tunnel into the world of new ideas.” The secret, according to Richtel and child psychologists alike, is that ‘what if?’ inspires kids with a nonjudgmental, open-ended approach to problem solving. It also “helps children generate lots of potential ideas,” says Richtel, “and research shows that truly creative people tend to be idea factories.”

Read Comics

In an era of digital-everything, it’s difficult to remember a time when kids routinely eagerly gobbled up comic books as early primers to longer forms of reading and eventually, literature. Comics still exist, of course, and more than a few artists got their start in the funny papers. And as Parents magazine points out, kids can be encouraged to create comics of their own as an early form of literary expression.

WHAT BEGINS AS A DOODLE … CAN KICK-START YOUR CHILD’S JOURNEY OF CREATIVE SELF-EXPRESSION

Spare the Rewards

This one may seem a bit odd, but according to UC Berkeley, kids need to find – and express – their creative nature without expecting praise or reward from their parents. Children, says the school’s Greater Good Magazine, need “to develop mastery of creative activities that they are intrinsically motivated to do.” Otherwise, parents risk diluting the value of the creative process.

Process Solve

It’s important to remember that the creative process, says Dr. Ben Michaels, is in fact a process. Meaning, that creativity is born out of our capacity to problem solve, see the world different, think outside the box. Michaels, a clinical psychologist, urges parents, coaches, counselors, etc., to teach children the value of problem solving. Urge kids – without helping – to think through a particular challenge and come up with a solution “and you will instill in them the joy that comes from imagining solutions to a problem.”

Pay Attention

This one seems a bit self-evident, but apparently isn’t for the simple reason we adults tend to project our creative ideas (like everything else) onto our kids. So if you grew up painting or playing the piano, your inclination may be to encourage the same in your kids (with the added benefit of being able to help).

But as writer/mom Lori Garcia points out, every child is born with their own unique interests and passions. Remember, says Garcia, “What begins as a doodle on a folder, short story in a notebook, passion for performing, love of sports, or academic aptitude can kick-start your child’s incredible journey of creative self-expression.”

How Art and STEM Build Emotionally Intelligent Children

Doug

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October 5, 2017

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How Art and STEM Build Emotionally Intelligent Children

Hardly a day goes by that parents aren’t reminded that their kids need to be up to speed with – if not downright excelling in – STEM courses (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). In an increasingly digital world, that’s where all the jobs are, where the future lies.

But a number of learning experts caution that STEM alone can actually be limiting to kids. Their reasoning goes something like this: STEM helps kids to develop the rigorous skills they need to understand and compete in today’s world.

But art enables kids to tap into a different part of their consciousness (or brain, if you prefer), and imagine news ways of interpreting the world and solutions to complex problems. By combining STEM with art – known in some circles as STEAM – kids are provided with the best possible combination of problem-solving capacities and skills.

art has the role in education of helping children become like themselves instead of more like everyone else.

Or as famed dancer Heather Watts says, “Arts education is a big part of building a 21st century creative mind, and I think that we have let way too many kids lose their way by not drawing in their young minds with music, dance, painting and the other various ways we can express those things we do not have words for.”

A generation ago, Daniel Goleman captured the nation’s attention with his groundbreaking book on emotional intelligence. In it, Goleman argued that our emotional intelligence was at least as important – if not more so – than our intellectual intelligence.

And what are the hallmarks of the emotionally intelligent child?

Self-Awareness

This is a person’s ability to identify and understand their moods, emotions, etc., and their impact on others. The self-aware are more confident, have realistic ideas about themselves, and use self-deprecating humor. “Art,” declared early education expert Sydney Gurewitz Clemens, “has the role in education of helping children become like themselves instead of more like everyone else.”

Self-Control

Because they are more self-aware, these individuals are better able to control and redirect their emotions and impulses or to suspend judgment without acting. As a result, they’re more comfortable in unfamiliar or chaotic environments and are more open to change.

Self-Motivated

An emotionally intelligent individual is more likely to march to an internal drummer and work for herself more than position, money, or fame. They are curious, find many subjects of interest, have a strong desire to achieve their dreams, and are optimistic even in the face of challenges or failures.

Empathetic

Goleman felt that an individual’s capacity to understand and relate to the emotional makeup of other human beings was particularly important. This enables them to get along with just about anyone, increases their cultural sensitivity, and makes them more successful in building and leading teams.

Social

Due to the aforementioned traits, the emotionally intelligent are particularly adept at interpersonal relationships, be they at home, work, or the community. These individuals are more likely to lead efforts toward positive change, be persuasive, and excel at networking and leadership.

Putting the Art in STEM

OK, so what’s all this got to do with art, music, and dance? Simply put, the arts put children in touch with something other than just their intellect. Rather than mastering complex topics such as trigonometry or biology, children are encouraged to develop skills that, over time, improve their emotional intelligence.

For example, a child who masters the Periodic Table will indeed have a good handle on the basics of chemical law. But a child who masters the role of the pauper in “The Prince and the Pauper,” learns empathy (gets in the head of his character), social networking (is part of a carefully choreographed troupe), and self-control (summons and directs emotions in the best way possible). Similar or different traits for emotional intelligence are learned through participation in orchestra, marching band, art, etc.

Unfortunately, the arts often are the first programs to be cut by financially-strapped school systems under pressure from both lawmakers and citizens to produce more STEM-enabled children. The result may indeed be children more proficient in math and science. But they may struggle to work well with others, form healthy interpersonal bonds, recognize and control their emotions, and relate to those around them.

What is perhaps most important to recognize is that the healthiest, happiest, and most successful children are those where both sides of the brain are nurtured and developed. Studies have demonstrated that children asked to solve problems in areas where they are particularly gifted show increased electrical activity across both hemispheres of the brain, not just one side.

Specific benefits of the arts are too numerous to list here, but according Kimberly Sheridan of the New York Center for Arts Education, children who participate in the arts are more able to:

Observe the world, dump any preconceptions, and envision something entirely novel
Use their own imagination and voice to express themselves vs repeating rote learning
Tackle difficult challenges and persist despite setbacks
Reflect on outcomes and be receptive to new ideas for improvement

To read more about the many benefits of arts-based education, check out this top 10 list of benefits on Americans for the Arts blog.

7 Important Ways Theatre Helps Kids

Cindy

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October 5, 2017

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Children are natural born actors. Watch them at play in the backyard, in their bedroom, or just about anywhere and you’re apt to catch them in the act of pretending to be someone or something else. Come to think of it, isn’t that what being at ‘play’ is all about? Which probably explains why theatre helps kids.

In fact, there is growing research demonstrating that theatre not only is good for all kids, it can be particularly helpful for boys and those who otherwise struggle to express themselves. In this post, we look at 7 Important Ways Theatre Helps Kids.

Expanded Perception

As a rule, actors must take on new personas that require them to speak, behave, and think in ways unfamiliar to them. This is particularly useful for children, whose lives are usually quite insulated, often confined to little more than home, school, and their immediate neighborhood.

Suddenly a child from a small suburban neighborhood is tasked with acting as an Arabian sultan, a British pauper, or an Inuit. Through acting, kids can learn to see the world from entirely different perspective, essentially using a stage and script to dramatically expand their worldview.

Creative Problem Solving

The creative arts in general and theatre in particular empowers kids to use their imaginations to overcome obstacles and produce a desired result. Whether it’s a musical instrument, a paint brush, a pottery wheel, or a script and costume, the child as artist must dig within him or herself to conjure up solutions to creative challenges. These problem-solving skills will serve them in just about every facet of adult life, including relationships, work, and family.

Confidence

Surveys and polls consistently show that the two greatest human fears are public speaking and death. While acting can’t do much to prepare us for the Grim Reaper, it’s proved very useful in helping young minds develop the confidence to stride onto a stage and express themselves. In fact, theatre stands apart in its capacity to pull kids out of their comfort zones and teach them to emote, speak clearly, and to impact an audience – skills that are incredibly useful later in life.

Right Brain Development

The explosive growth of technology has placed more and more focus on STEM studies (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) which, while useful in the ‘real world,’ are also predominantly left-brain skills. The world of neuroscience has demonstrated that the happiest and most successful minds are fully developed, with both the right and left hemispheres equally engaged. Theatre and other arts-based instruction is ideal for right-brain development. For a powerful explanation of the left-right brain difference, check out neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor’s TED talk about her stroke.

Therapeutic

As it turns out, acting also can be beneficial to young minds working through the usual angsts and anxieties of life. Says Heather Schiff, clinical psychologist, drama therapist and co-director of the Bonfire Theatre Company: “Children instinctively use drama auto-therapeutically, with no outside direction or superimposed structure. Dramatic play is a child’s way of symbolically expressing and resolving internal conflict, releasing pent-up feelings, exploring hopes, fears and wishes, and discovering new life roles and stances, which is central to any child’s development.”

Teamwork

Like any other ensemble-based activity (e.g. orchestra or band, sports teams, etc.), kids in theatre learn to be responsible to the group and to depend on others. A child who fails to remember his lines will quickly recognize he is holding everyone up, while another may come to realize she has the ability to bring out the best in others.

Non-Verbal Communication

Anyone who has ever tried to act (or write a script, for that matter) quickly discovers just how much needs to be conveyed through body language. Acting teaches youngsters how to use their hands, facial expressions, posture, and other non-verbal systems to communicate and otherwise get their message across. Again, invaluable lessons in a world that depends on communication for success.

The bottom line: If you’ve got one or more youngsters at home, consider enrolling them in acting or theatre classes. The lessons learned will benefit and live on with them long after the lights go up!