Why Do Children Need Art Education?

— The Insight of Viktor Lowenfeld

When children pick up crayons, choose colors, and start shaping forms on a blank sheet of paper, we often say, “They’re just having fun.”
But according to Dr. Viktor Lowenfeld, one of the most influential voices in art education, these moments are far more than play.
They are crucial opportunities for children to grow, express themselves, and make sense of the world around them.

Lowenfeld believed that art is not a luxury for children — it’s a language, a mirror, and a tool for development. Here's why he insisted that art education matters:

🧠 Art Helps Children Express Their Thoughts

Children don’t always have the words to explain what they’re thinking or feeling.
But give them a pencil, some paper, and the freedom to create — and they begin to express what’s inside.
To Lowenfeld, art was like a “thinking hand” for children — a way to turn inner thoughts into visible form.

🪞 Art Helps Children Understand Themselves

When a child creates, they’re not just making a picture. They’re telling a story — their story.
Sometimes, asking why they drew something reveals more than the image itself.
Art becomes a mirror of the self and a window into the child’s emotional world.

🌱 Art Builds Creativity and Independent Thinking

Art is full of open-ended questions.
There’s no one right answer — only possibilities.
This teaches children how to think creatively, solve problems, and explore new ideas — skills that are essential far beyond the art room.

🎨 Art Honors Each Child’s Unique Way of Growing

Not every child learns or expresses in the same way.
Lowenfeld emphasized that art provides a safe space where differences are not only accepted, but celebrated.
There are no wrong drawings in art.
Every line and color is a reflection of a child’s unique way of seeing and being.

✋ Hands-On Learning Deepens Understanding

When children draw, cut, build, or paint, they’re not just making things —
they’re also strengthening their understanding of abstract concepts.
Whether it’s numbers, shapes, or storytelling,
using their hands helps make learning concrete, memorable, and meaningful.

🎈 Art Is a Living Language

As Lowenfeld put it:

“We are not just teaching art — we are helping children find their own way to speak.”

Art is how children make sense of their world.
It’s how they ask questions, explore emotions, and share their ideas when words fall short.

Through art, they’re not just learning to draw.
They’re learning to think, to feel, to communicate — and to grow.

References

• Lowenfeld, Viktor, and Brittain, W. Lambert. Creative and Mental Growth. 8th ed., Macmillan Publishing Company, 1987. (This is Lowenfeld’s most influential book and the primary source of his educational philosophy.)

• Eisner, Elliot W. The Arts and the Creation of Mind. Yale University Press, 2002. (For broader educational context and further development of Lowenfeld’s ideas.)

• National Art Education Association. “Viktor Lowenfeld.” https://www.arteducators.org (For biographical background and his legacy in art education.)