Helping your children build and strengthen their creativity can help them become better problem solvers, understand how things work, develop their talents and interests, improve their self-esteem, develop concentration skills, boost learning and more. Children are naturally creative, but just like adults, some might need a little more encouragement and inspiration than others. How can parents raise creative kids who find joy and confidence in their ideas and creations?
Inspire creativity
Make sure your busy schedule allows for free time where your child is allowed to play, create art and build things using their imagination. Set up a space in your home and fill it with materials they can use. Crayons, markers, glue and paper are a great place to start, but also consider using items from your recycling bin, such as empty paper towel rolls, cardboard boxes, newspapers or magazines, egg cartons, scraps of yarn, ribbon, lace or fabric. Pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, paint and clay are affordable, and children can often find their own materials by collecting nature items, such as pinecones, sticks, leaves or rocks. Allow your child to discover what items interest them.
Allow time to be bored
“Let them be bored!” says mother of four Karla Traul. When your child is bored and not allowed screen time, they are forced to find something to entertain themselves. “When my kids are bored, I see their imagination come out the most, and they play the best together,” says Ashley Frew, an elementary education teacher and mother of two. “Turn off the electronics, busy yourself with something else and don’t facilitate anything for them. Let them learn to entertain themselves.”
Provide open-ended toys
An open-ended toy allows children to use their imagination to play and can be used in a variety of ways. Some great examples of open-ended toys are blocks, dolls, cars, clay, play food and art supplies. If your child is surrounded by toys that inspire creativity, they are more likely to develop the skills they need to be creative in other areas of their lives. “Encouraging creativity and imagination can lead to so many other great skills, such as independence, problem solving and growth mindset,” Frew says.
Encourage the process
While your child is being creative with art projects or pretend play, give them space without direction to figure it out on their own. Showing children an example of a completed project is a great way to inspire them, but allow them to make it their own. If they would like to color a banana purple, try not to discourage them. “Instead, ask open-ended questions that encourage them to find their own solution. I always praise the process, not the product,” Frew says.
Set an example
A great way to encourage any behavior or habit you would like your children to develop is to set an example. If you would like them to become creative problem solvers, walk them through how you are thinking of new ways to solve the problems you face in daily life. If you would like them to develop artistic talents, participate with your child when they are making art projects or while they play pretend. Even if you feel you don’t have much of a creative side, you can show your child how you use your own creativity to do the things you love, whether it’s decorating, fashion, gardening, sewing, cooking or organizing.
Allow mess
“My kids have full access to our craft closet as long as they are safe and responsible,” Frew says. “It is stocked with scissors, glue, paint, stickers, play dough and more.” Set boundaries and rules that fit your household, such as, ‘Clean up when you are done’ or ‘Only write on paper,’ and teach the correct and safe ways to use scissors. Try to supervise use of craft items rather than take them away completely. When kids know they can be messy, they’re more likely to be inspired to create.
When thinking of ways to inspire creativity in your children, consider their interests. Not all children enjoy arts and crafts. If your child loves sports, suggest that they make up their own game. If your kid loves movies, have them write a movie script and act it out. The most important thing is that they have the opportunity to be creative.
Sarah Lyons is a freelance writer and mom of six kids, including triplets. She enjoys reading, writing and spending time outdoors with her family.
