Give them ideas.
Children come up with things to do on their own, but we also need
to provide them with new ideas of interesting activities. Think back
to what you did as a kid. Did you write a diary, create elaborate
puppet shows, or sing and dance for relatives? Share ideas from your
own childhood experiences. Offer creative writing ideas like writing
an episode for a favorite television show or writing a new ending
to a favorite story. Craft projects offer another outlet for inspiring
imaginations. Craft kits, especially those from Curiosity Kits and
ALEX, offer a wide variety of unusual and fun projects. They’ve
brought us a long way from the sock puppets of our youth. These manufacturers
offer ideas and supplies to make such things as scrapbooks, powerballs,
soaps, candy, sun catchers, dolls, planes, dinosaurs, jewelry treasures,
and lots of decorative items. Kids can gather ideas from the instructions,
and then give the projects their own unique touches.
Keep ideas fresh.
Pick up any parenting magazine and you’ll find lots of ideas
to get those creative juices flowing in your kids. Search the web
and check out craft stores. Keep a journal or file for magazine clippings
and ideas as you find them. Stockpile so that you’ll know how
to answer the whiny “I’m bored” call from your kids.
Give them freedom.
Once you’ve given your kids some suggestions and supplies, step
back and see which they choose and where they go with them. This unstructured
play time gives kids an opportunity to stretch their creative muscles.
Watch as they incorporate your ideas and branch out on their own.
Set an example.
Chances are, if you are a creative person, your child will be too.
You display creativity in your everyday activities like when you reason
with a disgruntled child, change lyrics to songs, and maybe even do
some interpretive dancing to entertain a toddler. Your children see
your silliness and it rubs off on them. You surely use creativity
to juggle your and your family’s schedules. It’s a great
idea to point out to your kids how you use creativity in your daily
life.
As parents, we always try to do the very best for our kids and provide opportunities that will help them mature into intelligent, capable adults. Nurturing their creative spirits helps them along this road. With their well-developed imaginations, maybe they’ll turn it into a yellow brick, pink polka-dotted road with sparkles!
Susan Stump is the mother of two children and the owner of ChildCrafter,
Co. - Craft Kits and Subscriptions that Inspire a Child’s Imagination.
This work-at-home-mom offers a great selection of creative craft kits
from ALEX, Quincrafts, and Curiosity Kits from her catalog and website
(www.childcrafter.com).
The Days of the week can be very
complicated for a Preschooler to learn. Sure, you can keep reminding them
every day what day it is [...]
Everyone’s families are different. Some families have a mom, dad and one child.
Some families have many children. Some families have pets and some families
have their extended families living with them…. such as grandparents or Aunts
and Uncles.
This post will be about Families and how everyone’s families are [...]
Teaching your Children to Give - What to do with those Old Toys
Right after the Holidays or after your Children’s Birthday can be an excellent
time to start teaching your children the benefits of helping the less
fortunate people. Sometime children become very selfish. They have
a roof over [...]
Some of my fondest memories growing up is baking with my mom and my sister.
Yes, it was messy and time consuming and probably very stressful, but my mother
made sure to bake with the kids year after year.
So, just like my mother I bake with my children every year. Here [...]
Hanukkah is less than two weeks away. And, if your kids are anything like my
kids they are getting super duper excited about it. Sometimes it can be difficult
to keep your children’s energy focused in the correct area when they are this
excited. Hanukkah Puzzles are one way [...]
Thanksgiving is just days away. And, there is nothing that could get your kids
excited about the Thanksgiving Holiday than to get them doing some fun Thanksgiving
crafts. And, these ones are not only fun, but easy. The kids will use the shape
of their hands to make all [...]
Yesterday I gave you plenty of “All About Me” Preschool Activities that you can do with your children to help
teach them about themselves in the Physical sense. Everybody is unique, but
it goes deeper than just the Physical sense…. such as our senses. Today I
am going to [...]
It might surprise you to know that many children think that what they
enjoy…. everyone enjoys. And, what makes them happy….
makes everyone happy. And, what they find fun…. everyone
would find fun. It’s true. So, today I am going to write about different
projects that [...]
One of Children’s favorite Holidays is Halloween. And, what’s not to like?
There is candy, decorations, walking around the neighborhood at night, and of
course….. getting dressed up. But, what always happens is that the child lands
up wearing a costume that many other children are wearing as well. [...]
One of my children’s favorite type of art is Crayon Scratch Art. My children
love to scratch their way to creative fun artwork….. and I wouldn’t be surprised
if your children would love it as well. I have compiled a list of wonderful
pages online that offer tutorials and [...]