How Art Helps Kids Learn About Cultures Around the World?
January 30, 2025
Art is a magic on its own that helps connect people from different corners of life. It has a common language that helps us understand foreign traditions and cultures. This is possible because each art tells a story. Kids enjoy drawing and painting which are cores of art. It only promotes kids to explore their mind but also helps them learn about different topics. Kids can get to know about cultures, customs and traditions around the world with the help of arts. They will learn to appreciate the diverse world they live in by exploring different arts. Here we will discuss how art aids in learning about various cultures around the world.
Art and Culture: How are they Connected?
Since the dawn of mankind, humans have used arts such as cave paintings to communicate and store information. So art has become intertwined with human life. Every culture has adopted art to express itself. Paintings, music, dancing, writings, and sculptures are some of the common ways nations express their cultures and traditions during a certain period of time. In them we find their history and their values weaved in. Some examples are:- African masks represent spirituality and their community.
- Japanese origami showcases the precision, patience and creativity of Japanese people.
- Mexican murals such as Diego Rivera indicate the struggle and overcomings of mundane life.
Art Teaching Cultural Awareness
Increasing Curiosity
Kids get to know about different places around the world through art. It gives them a closer look into a culture and its people with which they may never interact in their entire life. For instance kids can try creating rangoli patterns which are part of Diwali. It’s a famous tradition Indian people celebrate each year. Through creating the patterns kids will be curious to know more about the Indian traditions, its people and their values.Open Mindedness
If a kid grows up learning about the different cultures that exist around the world, he will be more accepting towards cultures and customs different from him. He will learn to accept that there will be differences among people. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) conducted research that found that children who engage in arts are better at perceiving others’ perspectives which are different from their own. This is really important as the world is more connected than ever.More Knowledge about History
Art not only portrays traditions it also tells the story of the time it was drawn. There are also arts that are made specifically to highlight the history. Children can visualize and connect history they have read when they gaze into paintings and arts related to the topic. Through a study Getty Foundation found that children are able to remember 60% more about history if they engage in related art. For instance dot paintings of Aboriginal people can teach children about the native people of Australia and their traditions.Better Emotional Health
Art elicits emotions inside people. It makes people more empathetic. Kids are especially affected the most since their mind is developing. When they see the various colors of Guatemalan textile they can transport themselves into the culture. This helps kids experience things closely. By creating a bond between various cultures a child learns to value different traditions and the differences.Some Art Forms to Learn About Various Cultures
Henna: This is a common art form in India and various places in middle-east. Kids can use henna to create various patterns and designs on their hands and feet during festivals. This will give them a better understanding of the origin of those places.- Totem Poles: It’s one of the most common forms of art for native American people. These tower carvings teach kids about the folk story, their beliefs and history.
- Shadow Puppetry: Kids can create their own puppets and tell various stories to explore their creativity. These types of traditional puppetry will teach them more about southeast Asian cultures such as Thai and Indonesian cultures.
- Capoeira: A famous art from Brazil that combines music, dance and acrobatics. Kids will learn more about Afro-Brazilian history when they learn and perform the martial art style.