9 Ways to Boost Your Child's Creativity

Published 11 February 2022 at 16:24

Tickikids Blog Dubai >  After-School Activities >  9 Ways to Boost Your Child's Creativity

It's often said that children are our future. And if that is true, then the future of the world is in good hands, because children are naturally creative. All you have to do is provide a little encouragement and help kids tap into their natural creativity, and they will amaze you with what they can come up with. It's important for children to be creative and let their imaginations run wild because it's a part of who they are. Here is a list of 9 ways that you can boost your child's creativity.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Buy Art Supplies For Your Kid

This might seem like an obvious one, but investing in good art supplies will not only encourage creativity in the literal sense but also when your child sees how fun creating can be with all these tools at their disposal, they'll want to try new things and express themselves in new ways. There are many different options when it comes to art supplies. Getting water-based markers might be a good start. It's also a good idea to get your child paint and canvases. Your child will have a lot of fun painting whatever they want. Another great idea is getting them colored pencils. Colored pencils are so underrated. When you think about it, the possibilities are endless when it comes to using different colors.

Doodle With Your Child

Art supplies aren't the only things you should invest in, however. Art is something that requires an audience, so be sure to take time out of your busy schedule every once in a while and spend it with your child painting or coloring together. This way they can take pride in their work and feel like they're not just creating art on their own but doing it with another person who cares about them. 

Another way to inspire your child's creativity is by letting them draw on the whiteboard in the kitchen while you cook dinner together. The best part about doodling is that there are no rules and anything goes! Your kid will enjoy this because it's not quite "homework" but also not exactly free time for them either. You can even turn this into a game or make it competitive by seeing who can come up with the coolest drawing first! 

Drawing is an essential skill that requires practice and patience- so encourage your kid every step of the way and don't forget to have fun doing it! No matter what happens, being creative with your child will always be rewarding.

Read Books With Your Child That Inspire Creativity

Reading opens up a whole new world of imagination for a child. So pick out some inspiring picture books or fiction about kids going on adventures and going on quests involving creativity! 

Good old-fashioned reading is also a great way for children to be exposed to creativity. Make sure to choose books that are engaging and well written so that your kid can enjoy every second of it. There are many books to choose from, so start with the classics. Children's books are usually very imaginative and creative- just like your child! 

Bedtime stories are a great way to teach kids about being creative. This way they can get a little extra time to be creative, especially since they might not have the opportunity during the day.

Reading books that are full of twists and turns can get your kid's creative juices flowing. If your child is more into mystery stories, try to find some books like the Harry Potter series or Sherlock Holmes. Getting them on board with what they're reading can help stimulate creativity because they'll be working on paying attention to details, keeping up with character traits, and also taking in new information which all helps enrich their imagination! So grab a blanket, get cozy, and read them one of these intriguing books- it might just blow their minds!

Ask Your Child Open-Ended Questions

Encourage your child to express themselves by asking them open-ended questions. Sometimes all they need is a little push in the right direction and some good, positive affirmation. Questions like "What if" or "How would you" can lead to some interesting answers from your child.

For example, if you ask them "What if" a tree could talk, what do think it might say? Or how would they describe the shape of a cloud in the sky? Asking your child these types of questions shows that their voice matters and that their thoughts matter too. It also helps them see things in a different light which is great for stimulating their imagination! 

Try letting your child make decisions like what they want for dinner or what color they want their bedroom to be. Allow them some freedom when it comes to picking things that will spark their creativity, even if it is just in a small way!

Play Creative Games With Your Child

Games are a good way to relieve stress or boredom when you have a little extra time in between homework and chores. Board games in particular give children an opportunity to express themselves creatively in different ways. There are many options including drawing games, word-based games, and even games that children can make up themselves!

Games like Pictionary and Scrabble allow kids to use their imaginations and help them learn how to articulate themselves in a different way. Creative games like these open the door for endless possibilities of imagination because they allow your child more freedom than most other sorts of games would! 

Playing games can have many benefits, especially when your child's imagination is involved! Playing board games like Candy Land and Mouse Trap encourages children to think on the spot and make decisions quickly. If you don't feel like committing an afternoon to a board game, try playing children's card games like Go Fish or Uno together instead. These are great ways for kids of all ages (even adults) to get creative because there are no rules and anything goes! 

Help Them Look For Inspiration

Encourage your children to look around for things that inspire them. Many young people are naturally talented when it comes to finding beauty in everything around them, so help them see this talent by giving them a little push in the right direction. This way they can avoid being distracted by things that aren't going to make them think or be creative.

For example, if your child is really into nature and animals, try taking them to a zoo on a rainy day instead of just cooping them up inside all day. If you're looking for something indoors, find museums with interesting exhibits that will help get their mind working. The more opportunities you give your children to look around and see what's inspiring, the more likely it will be for this inspiration to become creative later on!

If your kid is good at acting, try taking them to a play. If they are more of a visual artist, go see an art museum or gallery together. You'll be surprised at how much your child enjoys the different types of art out there! Plus, this might open their minds up to new things they haven't tried yet--which is always good for teaching children about trying new things and being open to change!

Dedicate A Space in Your Home For Creativity

When it comes to inspiring your child's creativity, you don't have to look very far. Take a look around your home and see if there are any areas that could use some intentional creativity. Creating an art corner or playroom can be really beneficial for getting children excited about creating! It allows them to go wild with their imagination without worrying about upsetting anyone else in the house, which is always a plus when trying to encourage this sort of behavior!

Let your child draw on walls in the playroom, let them color outside of the lines with chalk on the driveway, or let them play with doodles in a coloring book. Allowing your child to explore their creativity in their own way is one of the best ways to help them develop this skill!

Having a playroom or art corner of their own also helps give children a sense of independence. When they know that this is their special place where they can be themselves and do whatever they want, it makes them feel good inside! This allows your child to get creative no matter what room they are in or what supplies you have available to them at the time.

Try Art Classes

Very young children, even those too little to go to kindergarten, can benefit from art classes. Art classes for toddlers and preschoolers typically focus on helping kids learn how to draw shapes like circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, and lines; color; make patterns; make collages out of pictures they draw or pictures cut out of magazines; paint with sensory brushes (foam brushes); use finger paints; etc.

Art classes are not only fun but they teach kids all kinds of skills that they will be able to take with them through the rest of their lives--and it's perfect for both boys and girls! Even if your child is shy during class or starts becoming reluctant once you get home after class, try giving them space over the next few days to explore what they learned. Their imagination will do all the work, allowing them to have fun and be creative all on their own!

Give Them The Space To Be Creative On Their Own

If you're looking for something that will allow your child even more independence but will still help them develop their creativity, try giving them some time by themselves with no distractions. 

The possibilities in this situation are endless and really depend on what your child wants to do when you leave. If they want to sit in silence and stare into space, let them! If they want to talk to themselves or pretend that they're talking to an adult or their favorite cartoon character (or even an animal), let them do it without saying anything back! Just watch from afar--and if possible, try not reacting at all. Letting your child know that it's okay for them to have imaginary friends is crucial for them--not only does it benefit their creativity, but it also gives them a chance to practice forming and maintaining relationships with others.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Creativity is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice. By providing your child with different opportunities to be creative, such as art classes, space to create in your home, and time alone to explore their imagination, you can help them develop their creativity skills. By letting your child express themselves in any way they see fit, you are opening up their minds in ways that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. These are just a few of the many ways you can encourage your child's creativity - try some out and see which works best for your family!