Art is a compulsory subject in the National Curriculum for good reason. From a young age, children naturally communicate through art, but it isn’t just fun and colourful. The benefits of art are wide-ranging and well-documented, providing intellectual and  emotional advantages for the children who create it. During key stages of a child’s development, creating art is a vital form of mental exercise both for the growth of cognitive skills and for well-being.

The benefits in the development of cognitive skills are seen through problem solving and critical thinking abilities. A core aspect of creating an artwork is decision-making – a child must determine how to represent an idea, what materials to use and how to compose the scene. This strengthens the child’s problem-solving ability, which affects every other part of education.

 

With no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers, art helps to boost self-confidence, as children can explore their own thoughts through self-expression. The attentive grip of creating an artwork often causes a child to enter a ‘meditative’ state which develops and enhances the ability to focus. Improving a child’s focus and concentration benefits every other aspect of education.

Critical thinking skills are honed and sharpened by making art. Artwork facilitates creative expression which engages different parts of the brain, forming vital connections between brain cells.

 

Art helps to break down the inhibitions which can create barriers in education, such as lack of confidence, so helps children to learn more effectively across all subjects.

There is evidence of a strong correlation between academic and artistic performance in children, as making art helps to develop cognitive skills. This is seen in reading, writing, mathematics, and other subjects. A 2019 study of 10,000 children aged 8-14 showed writing scores improved by a huge 13% after enrolment in art classes!

Making art has a huge knock-on effect, benefitting a child’s achievements cross-curriculum.

 

Art is instrumental in promoting the well-being of children. This is because it dually increases confidence and decreases stress. The freedom of expression inherent in making art allows children to create and mirror their own experiences and influences, developing a sense of self-confidence. This is supported by the sense of accomplishment and increase in dopamine that art gives – art activates the ‘reward’ centres in the brain and boosts self-esteem.

The creation of art has been shown to  reduce stress and anxiety, naturally relaxing children and so it helps to renew energy and motivation.

The benefits of making art for children are well-documented and significant – we see art as a key building block in a child’s holistic and educational development.

Supporting research available on request

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At KidsArt!™  we teach art and art appreciation to children aged 4-16, we run school holiday art camps, parties and family art gallery outings, we offer private art classes and art scholarship preparation. We have studios across London and Herts plus overseas franchises. We publish reviews and news of current and future London art exhibitions.  For who we are and what we do, click here

© KidsArt Limited, 2024

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KidsArt! is a successful business that has been built up over many years. We value our franchisees and work hard to support them and ensure successful running of the art studios.  We see the franchises as a mutually beneficial 2-way partnership, and hope that you do too!

What KidsArt! will make available to you during the running of your Franchise:

• The KidsArt! Leaders Manual
• The term time class structure document
• The party structure document (if relevant)
• The holiday camp structure document (if relevant)
• The private classes structure document (if relevant)
• 4 lesson plans per term – each lesson plan is for 3 sessions each lasting 1 hour so this covers 1 term of roughly 12 weeks (lesson plans are given on a single-use basis so are not to be stored for future reuse)
• Inclusion of your studio on the KidsArt! website (small fee payable for the additional web design work)
• General and as and when specific social media support – you can see from the KidsArt! Instagram and Facebook pages what we do for this – we have over 3000 followers on Facebook and over 1000 on Instagram
• Pebble booking platform that the rest of KidsArt! UK uses (pebble take a percentage so this is optional)
• Teacher training as appropriate for individual candidates – usually this is a combination of observing and helping KidsArt! classes, and then teaching with another teacher present (in studio or on zoom) to give feedback, discussion of feedback, all repeated as necessary
• Trouble-shooting clinic where you can bring questions and difficulties to discuss
• Venue sourcing advice if you are not running from your home
• Contact with the KidsArt! insurers so you can make your own arrangements
• Contact with the KidsArt! 1^st aiders if you are not 1^st-aid trained
• Assistance with obtaining an Enhanced DBS (fee payable to the KidsArt! DBS company)
• Advice as to art materials stock and access to the KidsArt! suppliers
• Inclusion in any local leafletting that we do
• Twice a week Facebook marketing for all of KidsArt!

What KidsArt! will ask of you in return:

• Payment for the franchise will comprise a reviewable termly payment in advance each term, plus percentage of fees payable calculated after the end of the term
• Taking payments for your KidsArt! classes only via Pebble booking platform, or bank transfer or card payment (so no cash) and accounting to KidsArt! termly so that the percentage due can be calculated
• Honouring and supporting the KidsArt! brand (please request examples)
• Ensuring all teachers hold up to date Enhanced DBS certificates
• Using the current KidsArt! class fee for your sessions – as at Summer 2024 this is £15 per child per hour session payable termly or pro rata if parents join during a term.  (There are some opportunities to offer discounts – please ask)
• Locating the franchise studio within a defined geographic area
• You may not sub-licence the KidsArt! lesson plans or allow unauthorised use and must cease use immediately on termination of the franchise

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© KidsArt Limited, 2024