How can art impact preschoolers’ health?
Proposing a SXSWedu panel to explore the integration of arts in early learning classrooms
By Courtney Christensen
In her article in Psychology Today, Cathy Malchiodi states, “making art… may be as important to your health as balanced nutrition, regular exercise, or meditation.” According to Cathy’s research, it is critical to infuse into early education the field of neuroaesthetics, the idea of combining the arts, such as architecture, music, drawing, and dance, with neuroscience to have an impact on health and wellbeing.
NHSA is excited to announce our proposal to present a panel on the rapidly developing field of of neuroaesthetics at SXSWedu 2018!
NHSA’s panel last year on the Maker Movement — moderated by Executive Director Yasmina Vinci — was a great success, with more than 200 people in attendance. This year we’re expanding on that success with a diverse groups of panelists who will demonstrate how incorporating neuroaesthetics into early education has the potential to create a significant impact on both mental and physical health.
“Making art… may be as important to your health as balanced nutrition, regular exercise, or meditation.”
In their article, “Nueroaesthetics: An Introduction to Visual Art” Thomas McClure and Jessica Siegel discuss the “parallels between the organizational properties of art and the organizational principles of the brain.” They show that “just as the nervous system dismantles visual information into specific attributes such as color, shape, and motion, those who create art isolate and make use of such attributes to create aesthetically pleasing… works of art.” The act of producing, engaging, or experiencing art can have a direct impact on brain processes by exercising the same skills.
For children dealing with traumatic stress, the science behind the impact of art on health and wellness is even more clear. When children experience toxic stress caused by poverty, illness, natural disasters, abandonment, or conflict, the amygdala of the brain, responsible for emotional response, is physically changed. This leads to a negative impact on emotional development. However, artistic expression has been shown to reduce the levels of cortisol, the hormone linked to stress, which prevents the change of the amygdala. This helps children facing disadvantages improve their health and wellbeing.
Many examples and case studies, including the benefits of pleasant architecture in children’s hospitals, clearly demonstrate the importance of neuroaesthetics in everyday activities.
In order to learn more about how art is essential to creating inter-connectivity in the brain, with long-term emotional and physical health benefits, please vote to help our panel be selected, even if you’re not able to attend.
We hope to see you at next year’s SXSWedu in Austin!
Courtney Christensen is the Strategic Initiatives Coordinator for the National Head Start Association.
