Being creative is an attitude. This is a mindset or a way of expressing ourselves, that allows us the freedom to think and question, to appreciate our creative achievements and to encourage individual ideas.
Some of the many benefits of being creative can include:
- Perseverance
- Problem Solving
- Creative Thinking
- Critical Thinking
- Identity Exploration
- Improves Fine Motor Skills
- Communication Tool
- Explores Culture
Here is a great example of using art as a part of making sense of COVID-19 for kids.
Creativity comes in many forms and there are many ways to explore!
Here are some things to keep in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Open-ended: put your focus on the process, not the end result
- Hands-on: allow for exploration in a wide variety of mediums with a variety of materials
- Make it accessible: set up a space that is always available and ready to go for when the child is feeling creative, if possible
- Keep it simple: make it age/skill-appropriate, not too hard, not too easy
- Follow the child’s lead: make it about exploring and engaging
Set up a time to build creative habits. Make it a family event. Make it a date! A date with creativity.
Some suggestions to provide the budding creator
- Coloring
- Sidewalk chalk
- Playdoh
- Painting
- Finger paints
- Spray paints
- Blow (straw) paints
- Music with instruments, including homemade instrument
- Sing together: actions and words
- Movement to music
- Making bags for toys
- Make your own Magna doodle board/sensory bag (find the link below)
- ‘Paint’ with water on fences or driveways
Some suggestions to provide the blooming creator
- Make a birdhouse with recycled material
- Build wind chimes out of items found in nature
- Beading
- Sensory bags (see the link below)
- Paint using sticks and leaves as brushes
- Ribbon rings to use with music movement
- Rock painting
- Potato stamps
- Make playdough or slime
- Make your own instrument
- Dance
- Puppet shows
- Dress up, act it out and record your creation
- Make a simple dream catcher. Follow the instructions below.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10wp0skZsP4x-HqeB0zdo2E5G-tIR91cc6935TRBF3SE
Some suggestions for the flourishing creator:
- Make a dream board
- Make a collage
- Make your own comic book
- Wax resist with paper or fabric
- Tie-dying
- Build a “book nook” (Little Library) to share books with your neighborhood
- Creative writing
- Online games
- Poetry
- Dance
- Photography. Make a digital collection and use an editing app to set to music
- Digital arts
- Make your own paints
- Drawing
- Sculpting or building with clay, mud or DIY playdough
- Acting
- Draw to music
The most important role in supporting your child’s creativity would be to encourage curiosity and openness. Enjoy your date! Relax, Be, and Create.