The Importance of Arts in Developing Cognitive Skills in Preschoolers

Has your child ever handed you a crayon-filled drawing and called it “a spaceship” or “my pet dog”? That’s not just imagination—it’s their developing brain at work.

For preschoolers, art is more than just fun. It supports the development of core cognitive functions. Every time children paint, sing, dance, or shape clay, their brains are actively building skills related to focus, memory, language, motor control, and problem-solving. Today, many preschools in Bangalore, including Ekya Early Years, are placing structured emphasis on art-based learning because it works—and there’s research to prove it.

How Art Enhances Brain Development

Children in the age group of 3–6 learn best through direct engagement. Artistic activities help refine hand-eye coordination, auditory and visual discrimination, and spatial reasoning. According to the Arts Education Partnership (AEP), participation in the arts improves cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and critical thinking. A National Endowment for the Arts ( USA) study also found that preschoolers engaged in regular arts-based activities performed better in reading and math during their foundational years. Be it a  Montessori in Mumbai or a Kindergarten in Bangalore, educational transformation rooted in this belief is gaining momentum. 

At Ekya Early Years, the Visual Arts curriculum is not optional—it’s central to daily learning. The focus is not on the outcome but on the process. Children start by scribbling and are gradually introduced to various mediums and tools. Through hands-on experiences, they learn cause and effect (like mixing colors), sequencing (steps in creating a pattern), and symbolic thinking (drawing to represent a story). These are direct inputs into higher-order cognitive processing. Aware of the growing acceptance for the approach, many preschools in tier 1 and 2 cities, particularly preschools in Bangalore, are now focusing more on developing the artistic side of kids.

More Than Just Drawing: Multiple Art Forms at Work

Learning through the arts at Ekya Early Years is multi-disciplinary. The curriculum integrates visual arts, music, movement, drama, puppetry, and storytelling across all stages of development. In doing so, learners eventually build locomotor movements and facilitate other areas of learning, such as maths, sensorial, visual, etc.  These experiences are designed to activate various areas of the brain simultaneously.

  • Music and Movement activities improve pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, and rhythm—key building blocks for math learning.
  • Drama and Role Play enhance empathy, language acquisition, and confidence.
  • Storytelling and Puppetry help children understand sequencing, develop vocabulary, manage emotions and improve comprehension. As a result, they’ll learn to create their own stories and think critically. 
  • Clay modeling, block building, and painting support fine motor control, planning, and symbolic thinking.

Several art forms also align with Montessori methods, used at Ekya and many other preschools in Bangalore, which stress sensory exploration and learning by doing.

Structured Creativity at the Atelier

At Ekya Early Years, children engage with the Atelier, a dedicated creative lab designed for research, imagination, and material exploration. This environment promotes unstructured play with structured intention. Children work with natural and recycled materials, miniature props, puzzles, mirrored spaces, and tools like shadow boxes and acrylic colour panels. These activities are not random; they are linked to cognitive domains such as spatial awareness, logical reasoning, and dexterity.

Research shows that environments rich in open-ended materials increase children’s executive function and decision-making capacity. Want to see how the Atelier sparks creativity in young minds?  Explore the Atelier here.

Expressive Arts Are Also Emotional Builders

Cognitive skills don’t develop in isolation. Emotional and social growth are essential to how children think and process. Art provides a safe outlet for self-expression and emotional regulation. When children are encouraged to express their thoughts visually or through storytelling, they build better self-awareness and communication skills.

Activities such as group mural painting, theatre skits, and dance routines help children learn how to collaborate, take turns, and empathize with others—all of which influence cognitive flexibility and interpersonal intelligence. This reflects Ekya’s value-driven pedagogy that promotes not just learning but also thinking, and doing. 

Final Thoughts

Nurturing the creative part of your child means indirectly building a thinking brain in a gentle, joyful, and powerful way. For young learners at Montessori schools in Bangalore, art is the crucial element which shapes who they become. So, when you seek preschools in Bangalore that understand your child inside out, Ekya Early Years is the answer that you’re looking for.

FAQs 

1. Why is art important in preschools in Bangalore?
Art builds more than creativity—it strengthens focus, memory, problem-solving, and language skills, giving children a solid cognitive foundation.

2. How does art support my child’s learning?
Activities like painting, singing, dancing, and storytelling improve fine motor skills, sequencing, empathy, and critical thinking—all vital for school readiness.

3. What makes Ekya Early Years different from other kindergartens in Bangalore?
At Ekya, art is not an add-on—it’s part of daily learning. Children explore visual arts, music, drama, and puppetry through structured, hands-on experiences.

4. What is the Atelier and how does it help my child?
The Atelier is a creative lab at Ekya where children experiment with materials like light boxes, recycled objects, and puzzles. It nurtures imagination, decision-making, and cognitive growth of your child. 

5. Can art also help my child’s social and emotional skills?
Absolutely. Group art projects, drama, and music teach collaboration, empathy, and emotional expression—skills that support overall growth and confidence.

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