The power of the arts in childhood is an incredible and irreplaceable force. Not only are children inspired to stretch their creative wings, engage in imaginative play, and learn about their bodies and talents but the arts also provide them with a clearer understanding of self and the world. The confidence gained from early exposure to dance, drama and music is undeniable. A dancer learns to interpret the world and give it movement and meaning. The actor learns how to dissect and portray emotion to build a sense of empathy and perspective. The musician learns to communicate a sense of feeling and understanding through song. All of these are a means of story building and storytelling and through this creative process we learn about our own stories and the stories of those around us. Most importantly, we learn about who we are and that we have the capability to shape ourselves and affect the world around us.

At a very young age I was given the opportunity to dabble in several different creative outlets. I was a member of my church choir for 11 years, starting at the age of 7, at which time I also began taking Ukrainian dance lessons. At 10 years of age I joined TK Wings and participated in my very first play “The Revenge of the Space Pandas.” At age 11 I joined my first Jazz Dance class. This early exposure began my snowball affect into the arts and it didn’t take long for me to realize I was home. I was a child who was a little left of center, one of the “inbetweeners” if you will. I struggled with self-esteem issues and a feeling of being misunderstood at times. I didn’t know back then that this wasn’t such a bad thing. It was drama that helped make me feel whole and allowed me to recognize my quirks as unique facets. By being in a creative environment where I could feel comfortable and confident being silly and strange and taking risks, trying new things, I was able to develop a sense of self and confidence in doing so.

It is sad to say that I believe the world is even harder for young people today than it was for me. We live in a world where there is a prescribed role for each person to fill, a mold that the media pushes us to fit, a role that is impossible and unachievable. By showing our young people that they have the power to change this, the power to break the mold and create new expectations we are giving them back the power that is too often taken away from them. Bullying, war, injustice, self-esteem; these are all incredibly weighing topics in the world today. By allowing young people the opportunity to dissect, play with and examine these issues through a dramatic presentation, a story-telling movement piece or a meaningful song, we are showing them that they play an important role in the world. We are teaching them that they have the potential to invoke a change in thinking, a sense of community and most importantly we are guiding them to becoming empathetic individuals. When we expose our children to the arts, we are giving them a sense of responsibility and understanding of themselves and the world around them. We do this by exposing them to different emotions, perspectives and stories and then allow them to dissect and give meaning.

A very important aspect of the arts is the creative process, but we cannot discuss this process without discussing the benefits of the result; the performance. The immense confidence it takes to get up on a giant stage, with lights glaring down, music booming and hundreds of eyes peering at you is undoubtedly an amazing benefit to young people. The applause at the end of a performance and the praise from families and friends gives an immense feeling of pride, accomplishment and self-efficacy. It shows our young people that with hard work, dedication, confidence and community they can achieve great things. It teaches them that every story is worth telling, every person is worthwhile and there truly are no small parts.

It is so important that we encourage our young people to get involved in their community. We need to provide them with the opportunity and encourage them to take a dance, drama or music class, attend an arts camp, participate in a local production and keep in mind the long term benefits of early exposure to the arts. They will make lasting friendships, learn about themselves, the world and their potential, develop deeper perspectives and most importantly, they will become proud and confident individuals.

So…the next time your child pulls out the pots and pans to make a rock band on your kitchen floor, colours you a picture that looks nothing like a Unicorn, sings off-key all the way home from school or does a grand performance on the living room table at your next family get-together, remember the meaning behind. Most importantly remember the feeling they will get when you tell them they have done something great!