Why I’m Making Art a Priority for My Kids

The other day, I was walking through a hotel lobby with my kids when my 7-year-old stopped, pointed at a painting, and said:
“That looks like a Van Gogh painting… because of the way it uses dots.”
Mind. Blown.

Now here’s the kicker—I had no idea what she was talking about. I barely remember the art history section of my high school history class (pretty sure I failed that part). But she was right. And in that moment, I realized: my child was seeing the world in ways I never learned to.

I grew up with little exposure to art. She’s growing up with curiosity—and I want to water that seed. But how? Our after-school schedule is already packed. Another class sounded exhausting… until I started researching (fair warning: I love researching).

Here’s what science says happens when kids engage in art early (thanks ChatGPT):

• Sharper motor skills → Better handwriting, tool use, and fine control.
• Stronger spatial reasoning → The same skills used in math, engineering, and problem-solving.
• Better emotional intelligence → Art helps kids name, manage, and express feelings.
• Brain balance → It fires up both sides of the brain, making them more flexible thinkers.
• Improved memory & pattern recognition → They literally start seeing the world differently.
• Stress relief → Art lowers cortisol and boosts dopamine, making kids more resilient.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized: art isn’t an “extra”—it’s brain food.

This clicked even harder when I read The Personal Librarian (the story of Belle da Costa Greene, J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, who curated masterpieces while navigating her identity as a Black woman passing as white). The book had me Googling rare manuscripts and historic artworks, marveling at the power of creativity to connect people across cultures and centuries.

And guess what? Right here in Orange County, we have everything we need to give our kids that same spark—museums, children’s art festivals, even kid-friendly programs at “grown-up” galleries. Let’s use them!

I’ll be sharing upcoming events in our group, including the Flowers from a Black Garden exhibit by Raymond Saunders coming June 26, 2026.

In the meantime, here are a few simple ways to weave art into your child’s life:

1. Give them space to explore without pressure.
2. Connect art to everyday life.
3. Let their interests guide crossovers into history, science, or nature.
4. Keep supplies accessible—make creativity part of the home.
5. Celebrate the process, not just the finished work.

So yes—Michael’s craft store, here I come. And OC Black Moms, I hope you’ll join me in raising kids who not only see the beauty in the world… but have the skills and confidence to add to it.

Always Have, Always Will ~ Kalie