At the age your children are in, they are going through an important stage in which they make decisions, search for their identity, seek a sense of belonging, and learn how to relate to others. Amid all these thoughts, it is important to make use of powerful tools for their social growth and emotional management.Art and sports are two ways to find balance, as both offer physical, emotional, and social benefits. Art fosters creativity, imagination, the development of thinking skills, and personal expression. Sports are beneficial because they involve movement and generate happiness through physical activity.Among the advantages of introducing art to your high school–age children are:Improved concentration, allowing them to focus and pay attention for longer periods on what is important.Encouragement of emotional expression, including feelings and thoughts in general.A healthy way to communicate what they want to express to others.Completing an art-related activity helps them feel proud and confident.They become more critical when enjoying artistic experiences such as dance, film, painting, etc., and are able to offer more thoughtful opinions.As for sports, these are some of the benefits of encouraging them to participate:Improved physical condition; they feel stronger and can help prevent common illnesses through regular exercise.Learning discipline and understanding the long-term results it brings.Better communication skills; through team activities they learn how to ask for what they need and accept help.Greater happiness, as practicing sports releases endorphins that make them feel better.Increased responsibility, as they follow schedules and develop positive habits.Here are some recommendations so you can share moments of art and sports together:Enroll in courses. There is a wide variety of classes to learn drawing, ceramics, woodworking, and even photography. Choose options that fit well with your schedules and shared time.Visit museums. Check the activities available near your area, attend exhibitions that interest you, and enjoy the experience together.Attend concerts. There is currently a wide range of concerts available. Choose one you have never attended before and that relates to a musical genre such as jazz, opera, etc.Have a project at home. Work as a team to restore a piece of furniture, paint a wall, or create a family mural at home.Set aside a weekend morning for sports. You can sign up for a walk or a race.Create healthy challenges. Set weekly goals for nutrition or exercise and keep a shared record of everyone’s progress.As you can see, there are many ways to connect with art and sports. The suggestion is to start with yourself—experience the activities, enjoy painting, drawing, singing, and being physically active.Just like with your children, if it’s not something you usually do, it may be difficult at first to know what to do or when to do it. The solution is simple: try it. Just do it. Choose one activity at a time and alternate between art and sports. Discover how you feel and which activities your children enjoy most, so that through your own actions you can encourage art and sports—both of which, as we have seen, bring great benefits.For us, your children’s overall well-being includes feeling supported, happy, and capable of managing their emotions. Art and sports are part of personal well-being; they are tools that help them feel good and continue their studies, while also fostering leadership skills that are essential for the next stage of their education.
