Do you have a kid that wants to spend their summer doing art? They want to build things. Make things. Draw things. Paint and color. All day. Every day. They just can’t seem to get enough. It seems that’s all they’re interested in. And maybe you’re wondering what’s going on or is there something else they should be doing ?

If this is your child, it sounds like you have what I affectionately call an ‘art kid’. Art kids are visual learners, driven to satisfy what the right side of their brain is craving and that’s art. Their brain wants hands on creative activity. The right side of everyone’s brain is about innovation and big picture thinking and, doing art is the way young children best explore, satisfy and develop this side of them.

Why so much art in the summer? The right side of our brain is always driven to do art. It needs art the way a fish needs water. But during the school year there are many other things to attend to and unfortunately not enough time devoted to the arts. This is even more of a predicament when schools don’t include art as a core subject or integral part of a child’s learning. Visual kids need art to learn and without it they’re fish out of water.

Summer is a perfect time to indulge and immerse in art. The ‘lazy days’ of summer are by design full of opportunity to think, day dream, imagine – all things that can lead to endless hours of creative pursuit. And not to worry, when your kids are busy doing art, they’re also busy building their brains. The right side of the brain thinks in color and pictures. It sees and thinks 3-dimensionally. It craves multisensory input, thinks in patterns and loves the pursuit and expression of multiple ways of seeing. Doing art allows the brain to do what it does best.

So whether it’s a morning spent drawing, building and making or an afternoon at art and drawing camp; relax, knowing great things are happening in your child’s development. Your kids are happy. They’re minds are active. Their brains are growing. Their hearts are full.

For some more great ideas for keeping the Summer Brain Drain at bay, check out my other STOP Summer Brain Drain posts.