14 Unique Ways to Inspire and Encourage Creativity in Kids
What is your child's creative outlet and how can you foster that into something great? Being creative is more than making art with crayons and clay. Creativity is an expansive and imaginative way of thinking. Keep reading to find ways to encourage creativity in kids with these simple ideas.
Mom Rewritten uses affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the links in these posts. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see the Privacy Policy and Disclosures tab. This article originally posted on February 14th, 2018 and has been updated and republished with a new date.
Encouraging Creativity in Kids
Creativity is more than just being good at art. Having a creative mind frees children to be "out of the box" thinkers. When we encourage creativity in kids, we're planting the seed for the future - adults that come up with unique ideas, those that challenge the norm and spark something new and exciting!
When I was growing up in the 70s, art supplies were always made available to me at home. I had tons of drawing paper, colored construction paper and crayons. I remember raiding my mom's stock of paper lunch bags so I could make puppets and put on a show. You should have seen the mess in my bedroom! My desk was always littered with art supplies and the floor was sprinkled with bits of cut paper, colored pencil shavings and crayon wrappers. I was a creative slob, for sure. But I was too busy with my art to clean up - I had things to draw, projects to make, art to get on paper!
It's important to me that my kids stay creative. My creativity is definitely a big part of the fabric of my personality! But it's more than just artistic expression and I'm sharing other ways you can put the spark of creativity into your kids.
Why is It Important to Encourage Creativity in Kids?
When we first think of the word "creative", art is usually what comes to mind. Art allows for healthy exploration. Kids can safely experiment with art supplies in a way that results in a satisfying end product. Art allows children to have emotional freedom as a way of expressing personality, thoughts and feelings.
But what if your children aren't into "creating' or don't care for art? Fortunately there are many other ways that kids can be creative without physically making something and I'll cover some of those ideas as well. Even for kids that don't think they like art, there's likely an outlet they'll be drawn to.
Figure out what kind of creative outlet is best for your child. Does you child enjoy the textile feeling of paint on canvas or chalk on textured paper? Or does your kid like building with STEM toys as their method of creativity? What about photography, writing, modeling clay or sewing? Could be that food and flavors are their creative outlet. Perhaps your kids are creative in ways that move their body, like dance or music. There's a creative thing for each child and it's fun to experiment with everything to help them find their niche.
Creativity Without Your Help
Years ago, I was helping my kindergartner craft a Valentine's box for school. I helped him cover a cereal box with construction paper and we talked about the design he wanted. He wanted to make his box look like a hotel and have windows that opened to reveal a heart inside.
I made the first window for him and then was called away by one of my other kids. This boy knows his way around scissors and a glue stick, so I left him to complete the project. And he handily did so, making several other hearts and windows himself. He was beaming when he showed me his completed project!
Rather than hover over your child, feel free to set them free with a project. If you have a very young child, it's fine to help when they ask for it. And of course to stay close to minimize a glitter disaster. But older kids are fully capable of doing their own thing - and it's important that they do so frequently without assistance.
Encourage Messes (and Reasonable Clean Up!)
A mess is often the result of creative expression. Getting messy is often how kids get deeply into the creative process (think fingerpaint, glitter and glue!) A mess is okay and kids should feel comfortable with getting messy while creating. When hindered by worry about getting messy, children won't be as creative. So make sure they know it's okay to get a little messy.
Obviously you'll need to set up an area for messy art making. Use an art drop cloth on the floor and washable table coverings. Wear old clothing and use easy-to-clean art supplies. If your child loves daily crafting or LEGO building, have an area that they can work on projects without having to put everything away each day.
When creative time is over, kids should be made clear on the clean up aspect. Kids of all ages are able to assist with cleaning up their mess. Even a toddler can learn how to swish paintbrushes in clean water to wash off the extra paint. A daily crafting project is one of the top things to do at home with a toddler.
Replace Screens with Art Supplies
There are only so many hours in the day. Would you rather your child's hours be filled with aimless internet games and TV shows or brain-stimulating creative activities? Limit screen time and encourage art and creativity instead. Consider being a good example as well by setting down your phone and picking up a pencil!
One easy way to encourage creativity in kids is to add a daily at-home creativity session to your schedule. Rotate between mediums until you find something that clicks with your kid. Parents could even add items to a calendar that includes a variety of creative activities like mandala coloring, cookie decorating, poetry reading, free dance or block building. Finding a daily creative activity is one of the best (and most budget-friendly) ways to maximize a staycation.
Dress the Colors of the Rainbow
Growing up I wanted to be a fashion designer, going so far as to be accepted into design college (the $25K yearly tuition put the kibosh on that dream!) Allowing your child to choose their own clothing and accessories is a way for them to express creativity. Clothing that is comfortable, colorful and fun allows kids to express their personality in what they wear.
Primary is encouraging kids to be themselves with clothing that is inspired by creativity. These bright and playful separates have so much style. No boys or girls categories, just simple basic styles and designs that kids love. And the high quality and great price you can always expect. Use the code AFF20PCT for 20% off your first order!
As someone who loves to design clothing and sew, I've taught my kids the basics of a needle and thread. Take textile creation a step further by teaching your children how to cut out a pattern and run a sewing machine. Coordinating different colors and patterned fabrics is a wholly creative outlet for many kids.
Give Kids the Artistic Resources
Having the proper tools on hand is essential to the creative process. Go through the supplies you already have and see what your child could use creatively. Bits of fabric, scrapbook paper and ribbon might not look like enough to you, but for a child they could make something fantastic with these supplies.
Organize the basics like glue sticks, crayons, colored pencils, scissors and craft paper into storage bins or jars for easy access. Extra items like watercolor paint, gel pens, modeling clay and paint brushes can go into additional bins. Writers will love to receive lined notebooks. Builders will enjoy having all their supplies available.
Teach responsibility for supplies at the start. If children want to create they should be able to do so, but that means cleaning up after themselves when they're done. Show kids how to properly rinse, clean and store paint brushes. Explain why covering their table with a protective surface is important. Even young children can use a dust pan and broom to sweep up sequins or glitter from the floor. Let kids know that when they clean up and treat supplies properly, you'll be more apt to allow for free creative time!
Creative Language
As you can tell, I'm a writer and writing for this website is my creative outlet! Language, speech, reading and writing are an important creative aspect. It's also one that's used daily in the world. Encourage creativity in kids with expanded writing and reading.
- Purchase a kid-friendly dictionary and thesaurus to expand language.
- Start a back & forth journal. Kids write a few lines and hand over the journal, then you respond with a few lines back. It's a non-verbal communication that can really open things up between child and parent. There are specific journals made just for this, including Between Mom and Me: A Guided Journal.
- Try this same technique with poetry. Write the first two lines then have your kid finish the last two, with the goal to find creative rhymes.
- Give young writers a daily prompt.
- Read aloud. Once my kids started reading, I tapered off the read aloud but found that they still enjoyed when I did it. I've begun to read out loud to them and they love relaxing with the stories. It gives them a chance to just hear the cadence of my speech and get more involved in the story line.
What About Monthly Subscriptions?
There are many different types of monthly subscriptions available that are intended to spark imagination and creativity at home. These mail order boxes include most, if not all, needed supplies for a project including extensive directions. These are hands-on kits to make something that kids will enjoy every step of the way.
My younger kids have loved receiving Kiwi Crate at our house. The monthly subscription boxes have a different focus each month, so my kids are always excited to learn a new skill. I recently switched the subscription (super easy to do in the website dashboard) so that their older teen sibling could have a chance with the Doodle Crate. They've already made a leather journal pouch and paper lanterns. The end results has been a high-quality project that they've been excited to complete and show off.
An Eye for Creativity
If you've ever handed over your camera to the kids, you'll be rewarded with a new point of view. Kids tend to capture some great images you might not have considered photographing. Children truly take pictures of unique angles, patterns, shadows and expressions. My son carried around this broken camera for months, snapping "photos" of things that interested him.
For children that enjoy taking photos, think outside the camera phone. Invest in a kid-friendly camera that they can use as they wish. Teach your young photographers how to manipulate images in an app, like Snapseed.
Get Creative in the Kitchen
Recipes come from somewhere so let kids know it's okay to experiment and get creative when cooking. It's all a process of trial and error when adding a little bit of this and that to the pot. Trying new recipes is a great way of palate-expanding for picky eaters too! If you have a foodie at home, get them involved with dinner prep by learning how to peel veggies or measure ingredients. Have younger kids join you when baking. They'll love to dump in the flour, turn on the mixer or just lick the spoon!
Older kids might want to simply take a recipe and do things on their own. I'm reminded of one of my first times in the kitchen when I misread the peanut butter cookie recipe and added too much liquid. Because I didn't want to ask for help, I added in more peanut butter instead of flour. The result was rock hard cookies nobody could eat! I definitely learned my lesson that's it's better to request assistance than suffer without dessert. Remind your kids that you're available to help if they need it. A simple recipe like this dairy-free chocolate cake is easy for bakers to make on their own.
Ask Open Ended Questions
For some children, their creative thoughts come through language and ideas, rather than in creating something physical. These kids need constant challenge in new thoughts via questions and contemplation. These are a few fun and creative conversation starters for creative thinkers.
- Would You Rather? - Kids love to come up with their own questions in hypothetical situations (sometimes the grosser the better!) For instance, Would You Rather live for one year in the hottest desert to the coldest tundra?
- What If? - Allow kids to daydream out loud with creative "what if" questions, like "What if giraffes had a short neck?" Or "What if money grew on trees?" These questions could spur an artistic outlet for kids to draw the what if how they envision in their head.
- How Could We Make This Better? - Put kids on the path towards thinking about improvements. This skill is invaluable as a career minded adult or for anyone that's not satisfied and always looking for a better way.
- What Would You Invent? - Kids are the best inventors, because they are unencumbered by thoughts about what's already "good enough". Have them come up with plans on their top invention ideas.
Creativity in Movement
Dancing, sports and play uses large muscle groups which can improve flexibility, balance and overall health. Movement is also another way that children can show creativity. Dance is a natural medium for creative movement - just put on music and see how kids move to the beat!
You might not think that sports can be creative but for kids that just have to move, coming up with new games is an awesome creative outlet. Remember that "water bottle flipping" phase? Challenge your kids to come up with new games using a variety of items.
Of course traditional sports items like balls and hoops are a must-have. But recycled items are also creative ways to create unique active games. These could be Minute to Win It-type games that use their entire body. Hand over cardboard boxes, bottle caps, plastic cups, balloons, and paper plates and see what games your kids come up with!
It's About the Process, Not the End Result
For toddlers and younger children, creating something is not about the final result. They couldn't care less if their artwork looks like it went through a tornado - they're PROUD of it!! And you should be too. For little kids, creativity is about the process. It's in the touching and textiles. It's in the fine motor skills of holding a crayon, drawing a line or cutting with scissors. It in the measuring of ingredients or the stacking of a tall LEGO tower. This isn't about perfection, it's about making mistakes and learning along the way. So don't worry about what their end project looks like and don't point out anything you think needs improvement.
Put Art on Display
While your littest ones don't really care about the end result, you can believe that older kids who put lots of attention into the process want the best results! And that means your attention to what they've created. So if they've written a poem, painted a picture, or even just glued cotton balls to a piece of construction paper, put that art on display! Save a few favorites in a bin each year (don't forget to write the date on it somewhere).
Find a clever way to show off your children's artistic abilities, even if it's a magnet on the fridge. I love the idea of a clothesline with rotating art work. We had this wire with tiny magnets in my daughter's room so she could change things out as she wished. Check out this beautiful Kids Art Display Sign, "Every Child is an Artist" from Etsy designer PeachyPineCraftCo.
There Are No "Mistakes"
One of the best rules of thumb to keep in mind when encouraging creativity in kids - there are NO MISTAKES. Kids should feel comfortable creating what they feel without repercussion of doing it "wrong". No helicopter parenting here. Even if you don't like what your kids are making or you feel like they could be doing it another way, it's important in this case to hold your tongue. Being creative is UNIQUE. Let your children be creative without your input, offering only encouragement and praise. You'll see how their creativity will bloom!
