Integrating music, drama and visual arts in extracurricular programs: enhancing psychological development in early school-aged children

The "Creative Bridges" study examines the integration of music, drama, and visual arts into extracurricular programs, focusing on its impact on the psychological development of early school-aged children. It addresses the need for holistic educational approaches that cater to cognitive, emotional, and social growth. This mixed-methods research utilized psychodiagnostic tools such as Raven's Progressive Matrices, the Academic Performance Rating Scale (APRS), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS), and the Peer Relationship Questionnaire (PRQ) to assess a cohort of 64 children aged 11-12, divided into experimental and control groups. The study spanned six months, featuring pre-program, mid-program, post-program, and follow-up assessments. The program demonstrated significant improvements in non-verbal abstract reasoning, academic performance in math and reading, and emotional well-being. It also indicated nuanced effects on social skills and peer relationships, with initial disruptions giving way to eventual enhancements in social interactions. The findings illuminate the cognitive, emotional, and social benefits of arts integration, underscoring the potential of such programs to enrich educational curricula. The discussion delves into the implications of these results for educational practices and policies, advocating for the inclusion of the arts as central to curriculum design. The "Creative Bridges" program highlights the indispensable role of music, drama, and visual arts integration in fostering comprehensive psychological development among children. The study advocates for a broader implementation of arts integration in education, emphasizing its capacity to enhance cognitive abilities, emotional resilience, and social competencies.