While finger painting may not seem like an essential activity for child development, it offers several valuable advantages for young children. This art project provides both physical and mental benefits for your kids, and they'll have fun while doing it. Here's a closer look at some reasons you should encourage your children to participate in this messy exercise.

How Does Finger Painting Benefit Child Development?

1. Improve Fine Motor Skills

As young children are developing finger and hand muscles, activities that require precise movement will go a long way. Finger painting involves surprisingly complex motions, while also engaging the neck and shoulders. The fine motor skills they pick up with this project will later translate to essential activities, such as using utensils or zipping up a coat.

2. Develop Hand-Eye Coordination

Finger painting helps children connect what they see with their eyes to the actions they're performing with their hands. By involving several senses, this activity can further develop hand-eye coordination.

3. Learn Colors

Finger painting provides a fun environment for children to learn the names of different colors. Mixing primary colors to form other shades can also give children a deeper understanding of how colors work. Additionally, blending the paint with their fingers is a fun and engaging way to learn.

4. Express Creativity

As with any form of art, finger painting allows children to express themselves creatively. Focusing on the process of creating a piece of art can be therapeutic and calming, while also stimulating the imagination. Better yet, ask your children to explain their artwork after they're done to foster language and speech development, helping them learn to express themselves verbally.

If you’d like your child to experience these benefits with their peers, consider sending them to an early childhood center. For a licensed facility that’ll provide a great education experience, choose Great Beginnings. With locations in St. Charles and Cottleville, MO, their trained staff members provide a safe and caring environment that enhances child development. To learn more about their programs, visit them online or call (636) 724-5048 for St. Charles and (636) 447-4212 for Cottleville.