Creative Playtime

3 Easy Ways to Foster Creativity for your Little One

These days a college degree is important, and knowledge of facts and good grades are too. But what can truly give your child an edge in this ever-changing world?

The answer is creativity: the ability to think outside of the box. And it begins when we are very young. Even a CPA can benefit from learning his or her creative strengths. ; )

How can you foster your child’s creativity?

With Fall Break and Thanksgiving approaching, November is full of opportunities to engage your little one in ways that are not only fun, but help him/her fall in love with learning.

–       Storytelling: Your child naturally comes up with ideas that do not ‘fit’ into the adult way of life. They give you glimpses of their creative genius with stories. You can foster this ‘out of the box’ thinking by providing an opportunity for your child to tell their stories. For instance- create a space each day for a small story or poem- title it Your Child’s Name + Story Corner. Give them your full attention for those 3-5 min. This small commitment will go a long way. Another option for during or after storytime is to stop to ask your child what they think might have happened, or will happen in the story. Accept their ideas, and go back to the book to see what happened.

–       Visual Arts: Crafts are always a fun way to keep your child engaged. This Thanksgiving you can make a gratitude list with your little one, or a hand turkey, sidewalk chalk is also an easy and fun way to allow your little one to express his/herself while getting some fresh air. Display the crafts to show your child how proud you are.

–       Imagination: This is a fun way to tie in creativity and the real world. Set aside some office supplies: an old typewriter, laptop, fancy pen, and a few envelopes. Let your child play office or classroom: draw in stamps, type on the keyboard, write letters to their favorite book/movie characters, etc. They can discover authority, management, and a sense of responsibility during these types of activities. Plus they’ll have fun!

GO! Get creative! Send us your photos and videos of your CREATIVE activities by tagging @SignShine in your post. We love to see those smiles!