The Role of Art in Education

From a Homeschooling Mom

Homeschooling can be a daunting task—especially in the beginning. When your children are young, while cooking, cleaning, and changing diapers, you hope to somehow address all of their educational needs. You spend time reading and counting with your beloved children while sincerely hoping ‘nap time’ will be their strongest subject. Rewarding and tiring are the early days of homeschooling.

I remember those days well. From the day my first child was born, I have been homeschooling for 24-plus years! The decision to home-school was not difficult for my husband and me. We saw flaws in the ‘system’ and believed the role of education was entrusted to parents. This is not to say home education is for everyone, but for my husband and me, the choice was obvious. One—twenty-four years later—with which we are well-pleased.

When my oldest child was five, naturally I wanted the best for her. I wanted to provide an environment for her to explore her God-given talents. I mused over the core curriculum. Would I be able to teach high school math? Or worse, Science? She was only five, but still, my mind was running and inadequacies came to the surface. Pre-school and kindergarten, I could handle it, but what would happen when those subjects became more complicated?

I quickly learned that homeschooling meant that I was learning along with my children. It was a decision to explore the world anew through their eyes. Homeschooling, like most things, is best taken one day at a time, with gratefulness and patience toward your children and yourself.

As a teacher and mother, I believe in the role of art in education. Art can help a child focus. It can be used to help a child write and express themselves. Art can help a child identify plants and animals and explore creation. It can be used to make observations. Art can help a child memorize facts and organize information in a way that makes sense to their unique minds.

The child who is exposed to art and uses it to express themselves has limitless potential. If they are destined to be an architect, they will excel if they have an eye for art. If they are called to be a teacher, art will help them with their students. If they love making money, they will need art for excellent marketing campaigns. Art can be used in any work, in any calling.

My children—three are in their twenties, three are in high school, and one is junior high age—all use art in significant ways. Justin, my partner in AJ Doodles, uses art in graphic design. My oldest daughter is a writer and English teacher. She uses art to connect with her students. My fifteen-year-old daughter is a serious art student. She and her twin brother use art to help decorate our home during family celebrations. My children have learned to love and use art to help them as they walk the path of life.

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If you are a parent, educator, or both, I invite you to subscribe to our Substack newsletter. Through this newsletter, Justin and I share resources to help you and your children in your relationship with art, enhancing their (and your) education in many ways.

We post a weekly step-by-step drawing tutorial. Through tutorials like ours, Justin and his siblings learned how to draw. Oh, yes, and I learned right along with them! We encourage you to take a few minutes to draw with your children today. It could ignite a little spark of fun that will bring joy to other subjects in their education.