5 Ways Art Camps Boost Kids’ Confidence Levels

Published by Hristina Mladenovska on

Sometimes, life is just plain hard. As parents, we try to shield our kids from life’s difficulties because we don’t want them to hurt or experience loss. But working through difficult situations and coming out on the other side instills self-confidence in children. So we look for activities that challenge and excite them, and we encourage them to do their best. We read parenting books, keep the lines of communication open, and try to help them feel good about themselves. But what can we do to help boost the self-confidence of those special, sensitive, artistic types? That’s where KidzToPros’ (KTP) art camps help. 

Whether your child shows an interest in fine arts, performing arts or digital arts, read on to find out how KidzToPros’ summer camps help boost children’s self-esteem

Art Camps: Improving Self-Worth

Art camps provide hours of fun and excitement for kids. They teach youngsters to think on their feet, express themselves creatively, communicate well with audiences and generate beauty through new, artistic perspectives. 

But beyond the obvious, arts programs also improve kids’ self-confidence levels in the following ways.

1. Accepting Feedback

Part of any art activity with peers involves communication. Kids learn how to give and receive healthy critiques when creating or evaluating art. Young artists also learn how to accept criticism and praise. For example, kids become anyone they want on stage, and applause validates their efforts. 

Acceptance and validation encourages kids to see themselves differently through art. An audience’s response might lead them to examine what activities hit home with observers or how their response to audience reaction might change the way they handle themselves on stage. It may also affect which types of art students decide to engage in or create, and how particular types of artistic expression appeal to different kinds of people – themselves included. 

Many KTP campers find value in praise and criticism, while others care less about feedback. Either way, kids benefit from the thoughtful interactions between artist and audience – or artistic observer.

2. A Sense of Accomplishment

Creating an original work of art, in any form, requires hard work. At camp, children spend hours refining a drawing, monologue, short film or other creation. They then feel a huge sense of accomplishment when their creation is complete – as they should. 

At KTP art camps near you, young artists work together and learn to appreciate the work that goes into the creative process. They use self-reflection and empathy to not only appreciate and refine their own work, but the work of others, as well. 

Practice doesn’t always make perfect – but it does make almost everyone better. When children put in time and effort, and see improvement, they learn life lessons about the value of hard work – and get a boost of self-esteem in the process. 

3. Developing Real-World Skills

Does your child enjoy playing an instrument, drawing on paper or online, performing stand-up comedy or writing a story? Such disciplines teach kids the following, beneficial, lifelong skills:

  • Critical thinking
  • Creative expression
  • Hand-eye coordination 
  • Gross motor skills
  • Fine motor skills
  • Perseverance

KTP arts programs also help kids learn how to collaborate effectively with others. They practice taking turns, sharing and the fine art of negotiation. In addition, they connect more deeply with themselves and learn to think through situations and outcomes, like cause and effect, self-reflection and change. 

We all encounter challenges. An arts education program gives kids the skills they need to problem-solve creatively in each encounter. This, in turn, builds self-worth.

When involved in digital arts camps, students build, refine and sharpen art skills to make their products the best they can be. Afterward, they share their artwork with others via computer programs or performances. This type of collaboration increases the young artist’s knowledge and may later prove worthwhile during future college admissions processes. 

4. Academic Achievement

As kids learn, they feel better about themselves – and get better grades and higher test scores in school. During art camps, kids improve in areas of concentration and discipline. As a result, they pay more attention in the classroom and tend to outperform their less-involved classmates. 

The more KTP campers practice critical thinking, working with others, creative problem-solving and both verbal and non-verbal communication, the more they improve as students. As a result, they feel more secure and less misunderstood as they grow and mature. 

5. A Sense of Belonging

All kids perform better when they find other kids with whom they identify. This is especially true for artistic types, who often see themselves as “different.”  When they find their ‘people,’ young artists flourish. Together, they create a community, a place where everyone belongs. 

Discovering like-minded friends provides validation and allows children to interact in social and creative ways. It feels great to be understood! Childhood friends learn about trust and boundaries from each other, as together they practice interpersonal and social skills. 

You’ll feel great, too, watching your kids grow emotionally at art camps in an environment of acceptance and understanding. 

Find Art Camps Near You

KTP’s summer arts programs help children build self-worth. This makes them more aware of their talents, aids in self-trust, and leads to higher self-esteem. 

Whether they’re on-stage, in-studio or working online, increased self-confidence follows kids home, into the classroom and through an almost limitless future. So talk to your children about their interest in the arts. Delve into their areas of interest and enroll them in KidzToPros’ art camps near you today. You’ll love the person we help them become!

Categories: Arts CampSummer Camps