Children love to be creative. It is up to you as the parent to figure out how to help your children express their creativity.
The best part about this is, there are so many different ways to do that! As summer is coming to a close and kids are getting antsy about school starting, you might find they are “so bored” more frequently.
Well, to that we say – give them a creative outlet to help alleviate the boredom. There is a multitude of different outlets for expressing creativity. You can also find something you enjoy doing and share with your children.
This way, you will be helping them explore and develop new skills. It will also be a great bonding time with them.
Has it been a while since you’ve taken time out to explore your creativity? We’ve got a few ideas to help you out.
Painting or Drawing
Let’s take it back to the basics. Get some paper, paints, pencils or whatever medium you prefer when it comes to creating a piece of artwork.
There are so many different things they can paint or draw. This activity will help improve their creativity and mental well being.
Certainly, you will learn more about how their minds work as they draw. They can draw just about anything-a family picture, a dream or the pink and purple dog next door.
You will also have a clearer perspective on how they feel. To make this a little more interesting, find a subject in your house you can paint.
It could be a basket of fruit, abstract sculpture or your child’s favorite stuffed animal. Place it in the middle of the table where everyone can see it and see how each person’s painting differs in perspective.
If you’re ever bored of painting or drawing on paper, you can shake things up a little bit. Take it outside with some sidewalk paint chalk, or get some non-toxic paint, a tarp, and old work clothes and paint each other!
There are so many possibilities!
Build a Fort
Yes, building a fort does help you and your children express creativity. You could keep it in the living room with blankets and couches or take it to the backyard with some scrap wood.
This activity will help spark a creative fire in your child’s mind. Even more, they will have so much fun playing games, reading, eating treats or watching movies in their fort later.
Here are a few different types of forts you can build with your children
Cushion Fort
Let your child use the couch cushions for the walls and ceiling. Then, they can sit in it with their popcorn while you watch a movie. This is great for toddlers and young children.
Blanket Fort
Use this classic fort building style to transform your living room into a large fort with blankets and sheets. Make it a family effort, but let your kids come up with ideas on how to get everything to hold in place.
Cardboard Box Fort
If you have any large cardboard boxes lying around, grab those and some heavy duty tape to create a fun fort. Let your children decorate it with markers and stickers.
You can even poke Christmas lights through the top of the box for a starry ceiling.
Wood Fort
Use scrap wood that you have leftover from your latest project. You could take it to the woods and find large tree branches to turn into a fort (also a great camping activity).
Cook Something New
Let your children look through Pinterest for ideas on a fun new treat to make. Assist them to go shopping for the ingredients and make it.
This activity not only helps them express their creativity through cooking. It also helps them become more independent and learn they are capable of doing many things.
If you’re not sure you want to let your child pick just anything, then give them a list of kid-friendly options to choose from. Another option for letting creativity shine in the kitchen is to make a base food like waffles, cookies or ice cream.
Make it more exciting by getting fancy with the toppings. Pull out a variety of fruits, sprinkles, frostings, syrups, or whatever your children want.
Crafts
Look at Pinterest, try a craft kit from Thoughts in Vinyl, or pick up a bunch of random crafts supplies and see what your children can make. There are so many options with crafts.
Right now could even be a good time to do some cute back to school activities or make fun fall decorations to sprinkle your home with. Pick up glue, paper, pom-poms, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, foam, or take your children to the store to pick out their craft supplies.
It might get the wheels spinning! Then, let them take off at the kitchen table when you get home.
These are just a few simple ways to help your children find a creative outlet. Others include dancing, making music, acting, playing with legos, building obstacle courses, and so much more.
Find something that works for you and your children and let the creativity shine!
