Exploring art helps children engage in abstract and analytical thinking. It can also sharpen a person's ability to think outside the box. These experiences in art help children develop creative thinking and keen observation skills which can be valuable in future problem solving situations.
I have used art in many of the classes I've taken. I have created powerpoints, newsletters, and other creative projects using various technology. However, my favorite one is
http://paint.net
It is a simple, easy to use program for creating artwork.