When Crayons Speak Louder Than Words: Art, Emotion, and Connection in Early Childhood.

A young child expressing emotions, creativity, and connection through painting.

I stood outside the preschool classroom and experienced art in its purest form. Children were hunched over their drawings, some with their tongue sticking out in concentration as they swirl colours of blue, red, and yellow into something “magical,” directed by emotions, imagination, and connection.

Art in early childhood is not about creating pretty pictures. It’s about self-expression — a way for children to make sense of their inner world before they have the words to explain it. Through art, children communicate joy, fear, love, and curiosity. More importantly, they learn to understand themselves and others.

As part of the GREATEST Roadmap for nurturing young children, the “G” — Growth — reminds us that development happens across all domains: physical, social, language, emotional, and cognitive. Art beautifully ties these strands together through play and creative exploration.

What Do We Mean by “Art”?

When we talk about art in early childhood, we’re not referring only to crayons and paper. Art is a broad, living concept, encompassing any form of creative expression that allows children to communicate thoughts and feelings.

Art includes:

Visual arts: drawing, painting, sculpting, collage, building with blocks or recycled materials
Music: singing, rhythm-making, dancing to beats, exploring sounds
Drama and pretend play: acting out stories, role-playing family scenes, puppet shows
Movement and dance: expressing ideas through the body — skipping, twirling, moving to rhythms
Craft and tactile exploration: molding clay, weaving, bead threading, or creating with natural materials

In essence, art is anything that invites imagination, curiosity, and emotional expression. Each form supports different aspects of a child’s growth and taps into diverse strengths.

Why Exposure to Multiple Art Forms Matters

Young children thrive on variety. When they have opportunities to explore multiple forms of art — to paint, sing, dance, dramatize, and construct — their brains and emotions grow in rich, interconnected ways.

Exposure to diverse art forms:

Stimulates brain development by engaging multiple senses (sight, sound, touch, movement).
Builds confidence as children express themselves through their preferred mode — whether that’s rhythm, color, or storytelling.
Encourages problem-solving as they experiment with materials and ideas.
Develops communication and empathy when children share or interpret others’ creative expressions.
Supports emotional literacy, helping them recognize, label, and manage feelings.

Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences (1983) reminds us that children learn and express themselves in different ways — through words, movement, music, visuals, nature, or interpersonal connection. Art activities reach across these intelligences. For instance, painting and building use visual–spatial intelligence; music and rhythm awaken musical intelligence; drama and pretend play enhance interpersonal and linguistic intelligences.

By providing a variety of art experiences, parents and educators ensure that every child finds their “voice” in the way they best express who they are.

Art as Emotional Expression and Regulation

Young children experience big feelings of excitement, frustration, sadness, and pride, but their ability to manage and express these emotions is still developing. Art offers a safe emotional outlet. When a child smears red paint in wide strokes, they may be expressing anger; when they fill a page with hearts and swirls, it could be joy or affection.

Research supports this connection between art and emotional development. Malchiodi (2012) found that art-making helps children externalize complex emotions, reducing anxiety and promoting calm. Similarly, Kimport and Hartzell (2015) demonstrated that creative activities such as drawing and modeling with clay can enhance emotional regulation and reduce cortisol levels — the body’s stress hormone.

Scenario 1: The “Rainy Day” Masterpiece

One rainy afternoon, Maria, a four-year-old, was upset that she couldn’t go outside. Her mother handed her a box of crayons and paper. Within minutes, Maria began drawing gray clouds, raindrops, and puddles. Slowly, she added a bright yellow sun peeking through the clouds. When asked about it, she said, “The sun is waiting for the rain to finish.”

That simple sentence and drawing reflected resilience and hope. Maria’s art helped her process disappointment and discover emotional balance. Through colours and shapes, she navigated a real feeling in a safe, creative space.

Art and Social Connection

Art also creates bridges between children and others. When they paint side-by-side, share brushes, or admire each other’s creations, they learn cooperation, empathy, and communication.

In group settings, such as preschools or family play sessions, art fosters a sense of community. Children discuss their ideas (“This is my rainbow house!”), learn to appreciate differences, and collaborate on joint projects — all of which nurture social-emotional competence.

According to a 2019 review by Davis and colleagues in Early Child Development and Care, collaborative art activities promote social skills, such as turn-taking, sharing, and conflict resolution, by providing natural contexts for emotional negotiation and mutual respect.

Scenario 2: The Caribbean Carnival of Colour

In a preschool in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, a teacher invited her class to create their own “mini carnival” masks. The children explored feathers, sequins, and bright paints. One little boy, Jaden, decorated his mask with ocean blues and bits of gold paper, saying, “Mine is the sea dancing.”

As the class paraded their masks around the playground to calypso rhythms, something magical happened — confidence blossomed. The shy ones danced freely; others clapped and cheered for their friends. It wasn’t just art — it was a celebration of culture, community, and emotional freedom.

This Caribbean twist highlights how art connects personal identity with social belonging, helping children see themselves as part of something joyful and shared as they also learn to appreciate their cultural heritage.

The Science Behind Creativity and Emotion

From a neurological standpoint, art and emotion are closely linked. The same brain regions involved in creative activity — particularly the prefrontal cortex — also play a role in emotional regulation and social understanding. When children engage in drawing, singing, or movement, they activate these neural pathways, strengthening their capacity for empathy and reflection.

Moreover, creativity supports executive functioning — skills like planning, flexibility, and self-control. These are essential for both academic success and healthy relationships later in life. So, those moments of artistic play are not just fun, they are literally building brain architecture.

How Parents Can Nurture Social-Emotional Growth Through Art

Here are some practical, research-backed ways to encourage your child’s creativity while supporting emotional and social growth:

1. Provide open-ended materials: Offer crayons, paints, musical instruments, natural objects, and recycled items. Avoid giving templates or “colour-by-number” sheets.

2. Create an emotionally safe space: Let children express any feeling, even anger or sadness, through their art.

3. Focus on the process, not the product: Celebrate effort and curiosity over neatness or realism.

4. Use art to talk about feelings: Ask, “What colours feel happy to you?” or “What was happening in your picture?”

5. Encourage group art and performance: Family murals, music-making, or pretend play foster connection and teamwork.

6. Incorporate cultural traditions: Celebrate local art forms, music, or festivals that reinforce pride and belonging.

Growing Hearts Through Art

Art in early childhood is more than a developmental milestone; it’s a mirror and a bridge — reflecting how children feel and helping them connect with others. Whether it’s a toddler’s finger-painted swirl, a song sung at the top of their lungs, or a carnival mask covered in glitter, every artistic act is a small step in emotional literacy and social understanding.

So, the next time your child hands you a scribbled masterpiece or bursts into spontaneous song, pause before you tidy up or quiet them. Look, and listen closely. That moment might be a window into their world, where growth, emotion, and creativity sway in a beautiful dance together.

References (for footnotes):

1. Malchiodi, C. A. (2012). Handbook of Art Therapy. Guilford Press.

2. Kimport, E., & Hartzell, E. (2015). Clay and Anxiety Reduction in Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 32(1), 32–39.

3. Davis, E., et al. (2019). Collaborative Art and Social-Emotional Development in Early Childhood Education. Early Child Development and Care, 189(3), 442–455.

4. Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Basic Books.