September 17, 2025 · The Journal

How Making Art Boosts Children’s Memory: Short-Term and Long-Term Benefits

When kids sit down with crayons, paints, or clay, they’re doing more than just making a mess — they’re also strengthening their brains. Research shows that creative activities like drawing, painting, or crafting can have a powerful effect on children’s memory. From remembering a new word right away to recalling a lesson weeks later, art can make learning stick.

Short-Term Memory: Remembering in the Moment

Short-term memory is like the brain’s “scratch pad.” It helps kids hold onto bits of information for a few seconds or minutes — like repeating a phone number or recalling instructions.

Art comes into play here in a big way:

Drawing boosts recall: Studies have shown that when children draw the words or ideas they’re trying to learn, they remember them better than if they just write them down. Drawing adds pictures, movement, and meaning — all of which help the brain hold on to information.
More focus, less distraction: Art requires attention. Kids naturally zero in on colors, shapes, and lines. That concentration sharpens their working memory, helping them remember more in the moment.
Especially helpful for struggling learners: Kids who have a harder time with verbal or written memory often find drawing a friendlier path. Turning words into images gives them another way to “lock in” information.

In short: when kids doodle or sketch while learning, their short-term recall gets a big boost.

Long-Term Memory: Making Learning Stick

Long-term memory is about keeping knowledge and experiences for days, months, or even years. This is where art really shines:

Learning that lasts: In one study, children who drew vocabulary words remembered more of them weeks later than those who just wrote them down. The act of sketching turned fleeting lessons into lasting knowledge.
Emotion strengthens memory: When children create art that feels personal or emotional, it lights up brain regions tied to memory. That emotional “spark” helps the lesson stick for the long haul.
Practice builds pathways: Repeated art activities — like weekly drawing sessions or music lessons — gradually reshape the brain. Over time, these practices strengthen the areas responsible for storing and retrieving memories.

So, while short-term memory gains show up right away, long-term benefits come from making art a regular part of learning and life.

Why Does Art Help Memory?

The magic of art lies in how it makes kids engage more deeply:

It uses multiple senses — sight, touch, movement, sometimes even sound.
It adds meaning and creativity, which makes information more memorable.
It connects with emotions, a powerful driver of memory.
It encourages repetition and practice, helping short-term memories transfer into long-term storage.

In other words, art turns learning from something passive into something active and personal — and the brain loves that.

What This Means for Parents and Teachers

Here are some easy ways to use art to support children’s memory:

Sketch while studying: Encourage kids to doodle new vocabulary, math concepts, or history events.
Make it regular: Include short art breaks in the school day or at home.
Connect it to feelings: Let kids draw or paint how a story makes them feel — emotions make memories last.
Support different learners: For children who struggle with traditional memorization, art offers another path to success.

Final Thoughts

Art isn’t just about creativity — it’s also a secret tool for memory. Whether it’s remembering a word minutes after hearing it or holding onto a lesson for weeks, artistic activities give children’s brains a boost. By weaving drawing, painting, or other forms of art into learning, we give kids not just more joyful moments, but stronger minds and memories too.

References (Blog-Friendly)

Óttarsdóttir, U. G., Wammes, J. D., Fernandes, M. A., & Meade, M. E. (2024). Experiments on the Efficacy of Drawing for Memorization. MDPI.
Fernandes, M., Wammes, J. D., & Meade, M. E. The Science of Drawing and Memory. University of Waterloo / Edutopia.
James, C. E., et al. (2024). Cognitive Enrichment Through Art: A Randomized Controlled Trial. PMC.
Rosier, J. T. (2010). An Examination of the Learning Benefits of Visual-Art Exposure. Georgia Southern University.
East End Arts (2024). The Benefits of Art in Early Childhood.