How Parents Can Nurture Their Child’s Creativity

February 2, 2021
Information, Parents

Creativity is important for a child’s development, being creative allows children to explore the world around them. Creativity also gives the child a chance to express their emotions and let their uniqueness shine.

Creativity is about more than just being artistic. It’s about thinking outside the box and looking at things in a new light. Children who express themselves creatively become better at problem-solving, can make better sense of their emotions, and have a better sense of self. As you can see, there are a lot of important benefits of creativity so today,  let’s talk about six ways you can help nurture creativity in your children.

1 Designate a Space for Creativity

Have a place within your home that is designated solely for the purpose of being creative. It doesn’t have to be an entire room filled with art or craft supplies, it can be a  small section within any room. Choose a shelf, basket, or bin in a bedroom, the living room, den, or kitchen to store art supplies. And then pick a coffee table, end table, or the kitchen table as the designated space to create. If you have room, you can buy creativity table sets at your local Walmart to make the area special for your child.

2 Stock up on Supplies

Some parents believe they have to spend a lot of money on art supplies, but that’s not necessarily true. Sure, you could easily spend hundreds of dollars in specialty art supply stores, but there are plenty of budget-friendly options to choose from. Places like your local dollar store, craft store, or even grocery store are great places to find affordable art supplies. Here are some things to stock up on:

  • Construction Paper
  • Crayons
  • Colored Pencils
  • Watercolor Paints and Brushes
  • Markers
  • Glue
  • Scissors

If you’re looking to stock up on supplies try the  Think Like a Designer: Designer Kit. The kit includes educational tools and craft supplies to assist young creatives to bring their imaginative thoughts to life.

3 Encourage Creative Thinking Skills

A good way to encourage creative expression in your child is to help them explore their critical thinking skills. You can do this by asking questions like:

  • What was your inspiration for drawing this?
  •  What do you like most about this piece?
  •  What did you feel when you were making this?

By asking probing questions like these it can help your child better understand what they like and don’t like, and to be more intentional in their art. Critical thinking can also help them learn to channel their emotions in healthy, non-verbal ways.

4 Explore the World with Your Child

Children learn best by exploring the world around them. Help your child explore by taking a trip to the museum, the park, or just take a walk around the neighborhood. Talk about all the different ways you can express yourself creatively:  architecture, photography, planning a playground, or even planting a garden. Show your child that creativity means more than just drawing and painting.

5 Set Aside Creative Time for Yourself

When’s the last time you sat down and expressed your creativity? Weeks? Months?  Years? Maybe since you yourself were a child? Children learn by watching you, so take some time out each week to explore your own creativity. You can do this by:

  • Drawing
  • Coloring in an adult coloring book
  • Practicing graphic designs on websites
  • Taking some photos and learning how to edit them
  • Learning a new craft or skill
  • Taking an online art or writing class

6 Sign Your Child up for a Class

If you see that your child has an interest in art or design, it may be a  good idea to sign them up for a class or two. This will provide skills and knowledge that your child may struggle to learn on their own. Classes also give your child a mentor to provide concentrated feedback.  If classes aren’t an option due to cost, you can always look for free classes or check out  books at your local library or use free websites:

Websites  

Books  

Conclusion

Encouraging your child to be creative gives them opportunities to come up with new ideas and gain skills that will help them face challenges in the real-world. Not only this, you’re creating bonds and loving memories with your child.

Now parents your turn! Tell us within the comments how you nurture your child’s creativity. Also, please don’t forget to subscribe to our email list!

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