Martha Booysen says art helps children rebuild focus and confidence

By AI, Created 12:27 PM UTC, June 02, 2026, /AGP/ – Martha Booysen, owner of Children’s Art Classes in Nolensville and Murfreesboro, is using curriculum-based art classes to help children build creative skills, confidence and attention away from screens. Her upcoming Close Up Radio interview will spotlight the business, her teaching philosophy and her plans to keep expanding.

Why it matters: - Children’s Art Classes is built around the idea that art can help children recover focus, confidence and imagination in a screen-heavy culture. - The program also gives young students a path toward portfolios, scholarships and careers in fields such as animation, illustration and design.

What happened: - Martha Booysen, owner of Children’s Art Classes in Nolensville and Murfreesboro, Tenn., was featured on Close Up Radio. - Booysen opened her first Children’s Art Classes location in 2017 and added a second in 2023. - The schools serve students ages 3 and up through after-school, evening and Saturday morning classes. - Booysen is set for an upcoming podcast interview about her journey and her view of creativity in a digital world.

The details: - The curriculum runs in nine-month courses. - Students work on painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, design, printmaking and other art forms. - Classes do not use WiFi, which Booysen says keeps attention on imagination and hands-on learning. - Students often return year after year and build relationships with teachers while improving their skills. - The program gives individualized help with technique, portfolio development, college applications and scholarship preparation. - Booysen said the team asks students each year what they want to improve and helps them one-on-one until they are ready. - The schools hold an annual student art show where children display work and receive ribbons and recognition. - Some students begin at ages 3 and 4 and grow into more advanced artists over time.

Between the lines: - Booysen’s message reflects a broader pushback against constant digital distraction and an emphasis on tactile, human-centered learning. - Her background in social work, including nearly 20 years in hospice care, shapes the way she frames art as part of emotional growth and self-understanding. - The business also functions as a mentorship pipeline for students who may want art to become a long-term academic or professional path.

What’s next: - Booysen wants to keep expanding Children’s Art Classes. - She also hopes to return to making more of her own artwork. - The podcast interview will give Booysen another platform to explain why she believes creativity remains essential for children and families.

The bottom line: - Booysen is positioning art class as more than an extracurricular. She is treating it as a tool for confidence, discipline and personal growth.