When Schools Cut Art: Keeping Drawing Alive at Home
When schools cut art classes, kids miss out. Here's how families can keep drawing alive at home with books, routines and community programs.
When schools cut or reduce art classes, families can keep drawing alive at home with a few simple habits: a regular drawing time, a good drawing book, a sketchbook and connections to library or community art programs. Even small amounts of drawing each week keep skills and creativity growing.
Art programs are often among the first to be cut when budgets get tight. That leaves many kids with little or no art instruction at school.
What kids miss without art
- Creative expression
- Fine motor practice
- Visual thinking
- A subject where different kids can shine
- Confidence from making things
Bringing art home
- Set a weekly art time. Even 30 minutes counts.
- Use drawing books. They provide structured lessons.
- Keep a sketchbook. Encourage daily doodling.
- Visit museums. Many have free family days.
- Join library programs. Many libraries offer free art activities.
A sketchbook keeps it going
A sketchbook gives kids a place to draw every day. The How to Draw: Sketchbook is made to go with the How to Draw books, so kids can practise lessons and invent their own drawings, keeping art part of their week even without a school art class.
Advocate
If art matters to you, tell your school and school board. Parent voices can help protect art programs.
Community options
- After-school clubs (see start an after-school drawing club)
- Community center classes
- Online drawing challenges
- Family drawing nights
Questions parents ask
What can I do if my child's school cut art?
Set a regular art time at home, use drawing books and sketchbooks, visit museums and look for library or community programs.
Why is art education important?
Art builds creativity, fine motor skills, visual thinking and confidence, and gives different kinds of learners a chance to shine.
How much art should kids do at home?
Even 30 minutes a week of structured drawing, plus casual doodling, helps keep skills and creativity growing.
More in teachers and classrooms, or browse all 217 posts on the blog.
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- Drawing Programs for Libraries: An Easy Kids' EventLibrarians: a drawing program is an easy, low-cost kids' event. Here's a ready-to-run plan with a step-by-step lesson, games and book tie-ins.
- Drawing and Speech Delay: Pictures Before WordsFor children with speech delays, drawing can be a bridge to communication. Learn how pictures help kids share ideas and practise words.
