We live in a world that prefers science over art, thought over expression, gadgets over sculptures. In education, there is a strong preference, at least among policymakers, for education to be science-based. After all, that’s what they think will most benefit the economy of the future.

In their minds, it’s a simple equation. The future is high-tech, and so in the future, we’re going to need more technical skills. That means buying more science books and computers, and fewer paints, drawing boards and glue guns direct.

 

They’re wrong.

In the future kids are going to need more creative skills. By the time most kids in kindergarten today get a job, machines will be the technicians. To put them to use, they’ll need humans with creative talent and flair to put them to use. Economists predict that by 2030, 80 percent of jobs will be better done by machines. What about the remaining 20 percent? They’re the jobs that rely on creativity. They’re jobs that involve developing new products and ideas, like product designers.

So how can doing art now help prepare children from the world just around the corner?

Art Helps Children Do Better In Science And Math

We tend to impose a rather artificial divide between science, math, and art. Many people don’t think that they’re related. But, they are, in fact, complements.

Doing math in isolation isn’t actually the best way to do math. Including art alongside math can, in fact, boost math scores.

Art Is A Way For Children To Express Themselves

Whereas science is all about finding the right answers about the physical world; art is a way to learn about yourself.

When pushed, children can be very expressive in the art that they produce. And it can be a great way for them to find out what interests them.

Art Develops Motor Skills

One of the reasons art is so difficult is that it relies on impeccable coordination between the hand and the eye. Developing this capacity can help set children up for life.

Art Develops Grit

Most parents think that if their child gets a technical education, they will be successful. But this is only part of the story. Success is very poorly correlated to technical competence. Rather it is linked to a person’s grit and determination to succeed.

And that’s where art comes in. Learning to paint or to play a musical instrument is incredibly difficult. It’s so hard, in fact, that it’s nearly impossible to do once you’ve become an adult.

This high level of difficult foster a sense of perseverance and grit in children. It’s that grit that they develop that is just as important to their future as learning science and math for their future success.

They Learn Collaboration

Art is something that is often done in groups. Just think about the school choir.

 

Art encourages children to work together to produce something amazing. And when you think about it, this is ideal training for the future. In almost all businesses, adults have to work together to get the job done.