Why are the Creative Arts so vital?

Children’s Mental Health Week

This year’s theme being ‘Express Yourself’ and focusing on getting children and adults to get creative while speaking up, Children’s Mental Health Week couldn’t have come at a better time for the globe. As schools are closed for most children, and the way the world is currently with the COVID-19 Pandemic, Children across the globe are having to adapt to this new ‘normal’. The importance of raising awareness for mental health for all ages has never been more critical.

The Duchess of Cambridge is the Patron of charity Place2Be, and the face of the campaign, Her Royal Highness mentioned, “This year’s Children’s Mental Health Week is all about expressing yourself — about finding creative ways in which to share your thoughts, ideas and feelings… it’s finding those things that makes you feel good about yourself. And while this is Children’s Mental Health Week there has never been a more important time to talk about parental wellbeing and mental health too. Last year you told me just how important this was that many of us find it hard to prioritise. This is a hugely challenging time for us all so please look after yourself too.”

Why is this so important?

The Mental Health Foundation mentioned, “Before the pandemic, research suggested that around half of mental health problems develop by the mid-teens, with three quarters established by the mid-twenties. Mental health problems among children had been slowly rising.”

If that evidence was before the Pandemic, can you imagine how high it is now?

So, why is the Creative Arts so vital to Children?

Firstly, it’s stated that the Creative Arts help children grow in physical, social, cognitive and emotional development. With creative art activities as such, what makes them more enjoyable for Children is that the main focus is on the process not the actual finished product. This sets up children to be ready for success and also failure. Working on Creative Arts during lockdown, one of the benefits can actually be to help strengthen parent-child bonds as well and engaging children in a positive mindset.

Quite Great’s Head of Art PR & Press and Marketing Manager, Lisa Freeman had this to add on the topic, “Both music and art are of huge benefit to all our mental health and that more than ever is relevant to children at the moment, who have missed so much schooling and socialising in the past year. To be able to express yourself with art is one of the true escapist and liberating aspects of art and something where children can truly convey their emotions.

What can be more expressive than giving a child some paper and paint and letting them translate their feelings onto canvas?

From such a young age this is so relevant, whether its potato printing or feet and hand prints to of course the more sophisticated works so many young people create and we are all lucky enough to enjoy.

The more experienced artists of course are all too aware of the power of emotional painting, one such artist is Dmitry, whose abstract unique works are truly honest in their ability to convey and share emotional context with their viewers. From his ‘Emotional’ painting to ‘Feelings’ — where we the viewer can interpret the colours, lines and composition personally. ‘Feelings’ may express so many emotions in the mass of swirling paint, perhaps these are lines of communications and at the centre lies the solid and bold message of a strong red heart. So can love and kindness overcome all our emotions and remain a hopeful constant to balance our mental health?”

Dmitry’s ‘Emotional‘

Dmitry’s ‘Feelings‘

Of course, it’s not just Children affected with mental health. Mental health cases have rapidly climbed for adults during the Pandemic.

Singer-songwriter James Fox turns to music as it’s a ‘healer’ and uses it as a sort of escapism. Talking about his upcoming album, out this Friday, James had this to say, “This album was written during a year that most of us were forced to stop. I rediscovered music again and started writing songs for the first time in years. The songs needed to come out, it felt like it was writing itself from time to time. I started getting very reflective and sifting through my past for the first time. It was therapeutic in many ways.”

Singer songwriter James Fox

Music and Art fields are actually used in forms of therapy for millions across the world. Both have evidence that they are crucial in development, growth and confidence.

The Creative Arts are all about connection and being creative in whatever aspect you want to create, so get your hands dirty this week, and dive into the world of creativity. You’ve got an excuse, it’s Children’s Mental Health Week.

Step out of your comfort zone and do something different while in Lockdown.

I mean, what else is there to do?

Written by Chloe Mogg (In House Journalist & PR)
@ChloeMogg