At this day and age, we can now hold the world in the palm of our hand and interact with it in any way we like. However, for those who are just learning how this world works, electronic devices might not be the best way to learn how to interact. While these screens are very convenient for children and toddlers to easily and visually learn, there are a few major drawbacks. Studies have linked longer screen time with slow language development because they don’t provide any feedback that helps children use language. Creative activities such as drawing, and colouring are forgotten when they’re in front of a screen. There are also studies that linked longer screen time with interrupted sleep, shorter attention span, depression, and anxiety.
The best way to protect your children is to establish screen-free zones. Make sure you are part of their learning, and show them how fun it is to paint, draw, and play with colors. The best way to unleash and enhance their creativity is to let them loose and allow them to draw whatever they want. This activity is called doodling!
Although doodling has often been seen as a distraction, studies suggest that it improves memory, among other things. Doodling is the kind of drawing that allows your child to be her own artist. She can draw and color whatever she wants and whatever her mind thinks of without limit! Here are a few benefits:
It improves memory and focus.
Doodling helps the brain stay engaged and alert. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t distract, but rather helps process information and fill in the gaps. Drawing or doodling is an example of multitasking in its simplest form, it engages the child’s mind, hand, and vision. Giving them free reign over anything they want to draw helps them think and put those thoughts into paper.
It also boosts their memory because multitasking is a relatively hard thing to do. Their doodles are also something that they plucked out of their thoughts, and drawing requires a certain focus on what they’re thinking to be able to actually draw them before they lose the thought.
It relieves stress.
Doodling can be a powerful stress reliever when your child feels overwhelmed with things. Learning new things isn’t easy, and doodling lets them have the freedom to express anything they want. Since there is no pressure to draw something good, they are more at ease. Drawing shapes and lines that curve and cross depending on how they want it makes them feel in control, helping them relax and unwind.
As their stress is relieved and they feel calmer, their minds are clearer. This allows them to actually focus better in doing the tasks they need to do after doodling. It also allows them to become more energized because their creativity is at its peak.
It enhances creativity.
Having the freedom to draw and doodle whatever they like increases their self-confidence. Because they’re not limited to just following an original, they’re more likely to believe in themselves and their skills. Being able to freely draw anything they want also enhances a child’s creativity. It allows them to think outside the box and not follow what they see in real life. Being able to experiment with imagination and make mistakes can actually hone them into inventing new ways of thinking.
With doodling, their imagination is at work, and their imagination gets better and better at projecting images as they draw longer because it enables them to hold their thoughts better. Remember, their only limit is their imagination!
It helps them develop physically and helps express emotions.
Doodling allows children to actually be able to express themselves. Doodling often reflects their state of mind, so pay attention to your kids’ drawings as they can actually relay the things that they can’t, or won’t, tell you!
Art without boundaries can really be a tool that helps children learn to communicate. It also helps them grow and develop, both physically and mentally! Their fine motor skills develop and improve as they learn how to manipulate their pens and pencils. Having short activities such as counting shapes in their doodles help them learn basic math. Experimenting in different art materials helps them dabble in science. The benefits of doodling really help children grow in so many different aspects.
Doodling can be anything from images, abstract lines, to decorating words and text bubbles. It’s time to erase the belief that doodling is a useless activity and see it as it actually is: a tool that can really help develop a child’s mind. The next time you see your child spending too much time in front of a screen, consider buying them art materials, and the good thing is that SndCart brings you a variety of doodling products that you can choose from! We have Chalk Books, Magnetic Drawing Boards, and unique products like the Aqua Doodling Book and our LCD Doodling Pads! You can check them out through this link.
Sources Cited
Good Parenting. https://goodparentingbrighterchildren.com/doodle-art/
Iowa State University. https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/03/31/parentalmonitoring
Medium. https://medium.com/multiplier-magazine/how-doodling-improves-creativity-aa718c1aab7c
Medium. https://medium.com/the-mission/4-amazing-benefits-of-reducing-your-screen-time-a2c69fa0cce6
Parent Circle. https://www.parentcircle.com/article/how-does-doodle-art-benefit-your-child/
Thrive Global. https://thriveglobal.com/stories/how-doodling-can-boost-creativity/