A new study from Child Trends explains that involving children from low-income families in preschool programs that include music, dance and visual arts may reduce their stress levels.
Children from low-income families are more likely to experience stressful family interactions that result from parents’ anxiety about trying to make ends meet, explained Eleanor Brown, PhD, a child psychologist and head of the Early Childhood Cognition and Emotions Lab at West Chester University.
Professor Brown said parents tend to focus on learning letters and numbers when selecting a preschool. She recommended finding programs that also emphasize play and creative activities, like art, music, and dance.
Watch the video below to hear from young children who have participated in these programs and to learn more from the researchers behind the study.