Ways to Instill the Arts in Your Child's Life

Throughout the week, we have been focusing on what educators and school leaders can do to ensure students receive an arts education. Today, we are going to focus on how parents can instill an arts rich environment in their child's life.

Dance to Learn Small Group Discussion, Photo by Amy Miller

The American for the Arts lists 10 simple ways to go about doing this.

1. "Enjoy the arts together. Sing, play music, read a book, dance, or draw with your child at home."

2. "Encourage your child to participate in the arts and celebrate their participation in or out of school."

3. "Explore your community’s library and read 'the classics' together—from Mother Goose to Walt Whitman."

4. "Read your local newspaper to find out about attending local arts events like museum exhibits, local plays, festivals, or outdoor concerts."

5. "Tell your child’s teacher, principal, and school leadership that the arts are vital to your child’s success and an important part of a quality education. Find out if your school has sufficient resources for arts education, including qualified teachers and materials. If not, offer to help."

6. "Contact your local arts organizations to inquire about the arts education programs they offer either during school hours or after school. Volunteer to donate time, supplies, or help with their advocacy efforts and connect these services to your child’s school."

7. "Attend a school board or PTA meeting and voice your support for the arts to show them you care and make sure the arts are adequately funded as part of the core curriculum in the school budget."

8. "Explore your child’s dream to sing, to dance, to draw, to act—and encourage them to become the best they can be through the arts."

9. "Be an arts supporter! Contact your elected officials—lawmakers and school board members—to ask them for more arts education funding from the local, state, and federal levels."

10. Sign up to become an activist on the Americans for the Arts website, just a click away!

To read this list in its entirety, click here.

National Arts in Education Week may be coming to a close, but that doesn't mean that your efforts in promoting and using arts education tools has to stop!

Keep educating yourself on how you can do your part in promoting arts education. There are numerous websites and books out there that will give you the tools and evidence you need to further arts education. Check out such resources as the Arts Education Partnership website, ARTSblog, and our Ordway Education News page to find out about grants, ways in which you can instill an arts education in your students, and etc.

Also, October is fast approaching, which is National Arts and Humanities Month. Get a head start on ways in which you can celebrate the arts during this month. American for the Arts has posted 101 things you can do to promote National Arts and Humanities Month and all that it represents.

We want to hear from you!
How are you going to celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month?