As your children grow older, they're going to need as many opportunities as possible to improve their skills and prepare for a lifetime of success in school and beyond. While you may already be teaching your kids the importance of reading and writing, the early childhood learning specialists at Northern Lights Preschool & Child Care in Anchorage, AK, recommend giving them a chance to participate in arts and crafts activities, too.

If you're not sure why painting and drawing is an important aspect of early childhood learning, check out the following benefits that arts and crafts can have on your child's development:

• Fine Motor Skills: When kids are young, one of the most important skills that they must develop is their fine motor coordination. Since arts and crafts require children to draw, cut, and write, they're getting meaningful practice in a crucial skill.

• Patience: In the age of information, it can be tough to teach kids that they have to wait. By turning off the television and taking out the arts and crafts kit, you can help show your children the importance of patience, as they'll be bringing their ideas to life while seeing the creative process that goes into drawing a picture or building a model.

• Bilateral Coordination: Many skills that are learned in an early childhood learning environment are transferable, and that's definitely the case with bilateral coordination. When your child picks up a pencil or uses a pair of scissors, they're utilizing both sides of their body to achieve different goals. Later, you'll see this pay off when they're tying their own shoes and typing out their book reports for school!

To learn more about the relationship between arts and crafts and early childhood learning, contact Northern Lights Preschool & Child Care by calling (888) 688-8794 today. Visit them online to find out more about the learning center.