If you had to take a test tomorrow that included several complicated problems to solve, wouldn’t you want your brain to fire on all cylinders? I bet you’d want both the left and right hemispheres to be working together, bringing their individual strengths to solving the problems at hand.

If so, then you probably wish you’d had the opportunity to take a multitude of art classes when you were young. Why? Because the study and practice of art in all of its forms helps kids develop a number of skills that can last a lifetime.

In fact, studies have shown that including the arts in early education can improve academic, study, communication and cognitive skills.

According to The College Board, “The arts – all the arts – help students develop skills in group interaction, self-esteem, reflection, decision-making and innovative thinking.”

And believe me, innovative thinking is one of the key components in solving problems.

Children are naturally drawn to the arts. When have you ever seen a child turn down the chance to draw with a crayon or piece of chalk? How many children automatically begin to dance when they hear music, or want to dress up as their favorite character?

Where does this natural instinct come from?

The brain is divided into two parts – the right and left hemispheres. Our ability to think logically and process information comes from the left brain, while the right brain allows us to experience emotion and be creative.

Studies with gifted children have shown that when these children solved problems, both hemispheres showed increased electrical activity – in other words, their brains were firing on all cylinders.

Unfortunately, even though The College Board says that, “the arts are effective in keeping students in school, engaging students in learning and promoting high achievement,” when schools are forced to cut their budgets, it’s usually the art programs that suffer first.

So, what’s my point in telling you all of this?

Don’t rely on the school system to do it all for you. Your kids are on summer vacation. They want to relax and have fun. Why can’t they have fun doing something artistic? That way, they’ll accomplish two things at once: have fun and develop skills that will help them when they go back to school.

Here are some ideas. The City of Renton has a number of summer camps. “Applause! Applause!” helps kids collaborate on improvisational acting, writing skits and making costumes. Maybe they’re into jewelry. If so, sign them up for the “Indie Arts Camp.” They’ll not only learn to make jewelry, they’ll try their hand at screen printing. There is even “Cartooniversity,” where kids can learn the art of cartooning.

If you can’t afford the camp, be sure to check into the City’s recreational scholarship program.

If your child is older, there is Renton’s teen musical. And coming up in July is Renton River Days, which gives kids two opportunities: the Allied Arts of Renton “Annual Chalk Art Festival” and the Renton Annual Art Show, which will offer cash prizes this year for student entries.

But don’t stop there. Look into programs at the Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA, or just get online and Google for what you want.

Lastly, don’t tell your kids that you’re signing them up for a class because you want them to practice their spatial and organizational skills. And for heaven’s sake, don’t tell them that you think it’s important for them to learn cognitive thinking.

Just tell them you want them to have fun. The art form they participate in will do the rest.

And the fact that you purposely did something to improve their chances at graduating, going to college and being successful in life? Well, that can just be our little secret.

Lynn Bohart is the executive director of the Renton Community Foundation that oversees a number of funds that provide charitable dollars to support the arts, healthcare, education and families-in-need. She can be reached at lbohart@rentonfoundation.org.