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How Schools Use Art Curriculum to Build Emotional Intelligence in Students

When we think of school, the first things that come to mind are textbooks, exams, and grades. But learning is not only about academics — it’s also about understanding who we are and how we feel. This is where art education plays a powerful role. For children, art is not just drawing or painting; it is a way of exploring their inner world and learning to express emotions in a healthy, creative way.

At the Children’s Art Museum of India (CAMI), we believe that art is more than an extracurricular activity — it’s an essential part of emotional learning. Let’s explore how schools in India can use art curriculum to build emotional intelligence (EI) in students.


Warli art

What Is Emotional Intelligence and Why Does It Matter?

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, express, and manage emotions — both your own and others’. For children, high emotional intelligence means:

  • Better self-awareness

  • Stronger empathy

  • Improved communication

  • Ability to cope with stress and failure

In a school environment where exams and performance can often create pressure, art becomes a safe outlet for kids to process their feelings.

How Art in Schools Builds Emotional Intelligence

1. Art Encourages Self-Expression

When a child paints a stormy sky or scribbles bold red strokes, they may be expressing anger, frustration, or excitement. Teachers who encourage students to talk about their drawings help children build self-awareness — the first step toward emotional intelligence.

2. Colors Become the Language of Emotions

Indian children are naturally exposed to vibrant colors through festivals, rangolis, and folk traditions. In the classroom, using colors to represent emotions (yellow for joy, blue for calm, red for anger) helps kids name and manage their feelings.

3. Storytelling Through Art Builds Empathy

When children draw or create stories with characters, they step into someone else’s shoes. For example, a student painting a farmer during harvest season begins to imagine the farmer’s emotions — pride, hard work, and sometimes struggle. This fosters empathy.

4. Collaborative Art Teaches Social Skills

Group projects like murals or classroom posters teach children teamwork and respect for others’ ideas. Sharing space on the canvas mirrors real-life cooperation.

5. Art as a Stress Buster

Especially during exam season, art periods give children a chance to relax. Doodling, coloring, or free drawing calms the mind and improves focus, making kids emotionally resilient.

Indian Context: Art in the Classroom

In India, many schools still treat art as a side subject. But things are changing. CBSE and IB schools have started adopting Art-Integrated Learning (AIL), where students use art to understand subjects and express emotions. For example:

  • A history lesson about freedom fighters may be paired with drawing posters of courage.

  • A science class on nature may be integrated with painting trees or rivers to express feelings about the environment.

This integration ensures that art isn’t just about skill, but about connecting emotions to learning.

Tips for Schools & Teachers

  • Provide free drawing time where children can create without judgment.

  • Use art as a conversation starter about feelings.

  • Introduce Indian folk art (like Warli or Madhubani) to help kids see how emotions have always been part of cultural storytelling.

  • Celebrate not just neatness or beauty, but the emotional honesty of a child’s artwork.

Art in schools is not about who draws the “best picture.” It’s about giving children the tools to understand themselves and others better. By building emotional intelligence through art, schools in India can raise not just smart students — but happy, resilient, and empathetic individuals.

At CAMI, our September ArtFest: Draw Your Emotions is designed with exactly this goal in mind — giving children across India a chance to explore, express, and celebrate their emotions through art.


🔗 Explore more at: www.childrensartmuseumofindia.com



 
 
 

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