Growing up, most of us have been big fans of 90s cartoon shows, especially the few that now seem like sweet nostalgia. But, as with anything that’s created from scratch, there’s more to cartoon drawing or cartooning that meets the eye.
While cartooning has traditionally been about satire, caricature, or humor, it’s also a good way for artists to express themselves as they see life or add humor to everyday life. The best part is that cartoons can come in all shapes and sizes, don’t have to be perfect, and move us with different emotions. We wanted our little DIYers to start exploring this fun way of expression, so we created an exclusive course on cartooning that is suitable for ages 5-10!
If you’re still not convinced about why cartooning is absolutely awesome, here are three reasons your kid should try it (we know they’ll love it too).
-
Improves drawing skills and cognitive functions
While drawing is a satisfying hobby in itself, giving it a direction of cartooning gives a new perspective to the drawing. The activity of drawing can be very fulfilling as it helps in engaging various cognitive domains in creating, evaluating, analyzing, applying, and assimilating information. Cartooning also improves hand-eye coordination, motor skills, observation skills, and eye for detail that will keep them in good stead for life!
-
Helps kids perceive better and express themselves
As adults, most of us are used to being expressive or vocal about how we feel or talk about our thoughts and feelings, but that’s not always the same with kids. Drawing and cartooning can be important forms of communication for children in a creative way. Moreover, studies have shown that art has been an effective way to treat adolescents with PTSD. It’s also a good outlet for kids to pick up a pencil and express any emotions that could be consciously or subconsciously repressed.
-
Helps kids process and retain information
Cartooning can be an effective way for kids to focus on how little details, characters, and a storyline can lead to a bigger picture. It also helps in building and developing skills that help in drafting stories, personification, tone, and thinking of narrative arcs that can also be used for graphic novels.
You never know where your kid’s true passion lies, and starting young can help kids prepare for a professional career as a professional cartoonist, journalist, columnist, the media industry, innovative marketing, or any other creative art field. Cheers!