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                                    14 alaska parent spring 2024 AlaskaParent.comWays to Raise Creative KidsBy Sarah Lyons Helping your children build and strengthen their creativity can help them become better problem solvers, understand how things work, develop their talents and interests, improve their self-esteem, develop concentration skills, boost learning and more. Children are naturally creative, but just like adults, some may need a little more encouragement and inspiration than others. How can parents raise creative kids who find joy and confidence in their ideas and creations? Inspire creativity One of the best ways to spark your children’s creativity is to give time and space for them to create. If your kids’ day is filled with sports and activities, they may not have the time to be creative with their free time. Make sure your busy schedule allows for free time where your children are allowed to play, create art and build things using their imaginations. Set up a space in your home where they are allowed to get a little messy with a craft and fill it with materials they can use to create something. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on craft supplies. Crayons, markers, glue and paper are a great place to start but also consider using items from your recycle bin, such as empty paper towel rolls, cardboard boxes, newspapers or magazines, egg cartons, scraps of yarn, ribbon, lace or fabric. Pipe cleaners, Popsicle sticks, paint and clay can be bought at an affordable price, and children can often find ingredients for art by collecting nature items outside, such as pine cones, sticks, leaves or rocks. Allow your children to discover what items interest them and begin to create. Allow boredom Kids will often turn on the TV, tablet or video game to fill times of idleness. “Let them be bored!” says Karla Traul, mom of four. When your children are bored and they are not allowed to have screen time, they are forced to find something to entertain themselves. “When my kids are bored, I see their imagination come out the most, and they play the best together,” says Ashley Frew, an elementary education teacher and mom of two. “Turn off the electronics, busy yourself with something else and don’t facilitate anything for them,” she says. “Let them learn to entertain themselves.” Provide open-ended toys An open-ended toy allows children to use their imaginations to play and can be used in a variety of ways. Some great examples of open-ended toys are blocks, dolls, cars, clay, play food or art supplies. If your children are surrounded by toys that inspire creativity, they are more likely to develop the skills they need to be creative in other areas of their lives. “Encouraging creativity and imagination can lead to so many other great skills, such as independence, problem solving and growth mindset,” says Ashley. Encourage the process While your child is being creative with art projects or pretend play, try to give him space without direction to figure it out on his own. Showing an example of a completed project is a great way to inspire kids but allow them to make it their own. If they would like to color a banana purple, don’t discourage them by calling it silly or pointing out bananas are usually yellow. “Avoid jumping in if they are struggling,” Ashley says. “Instead, ask open-ended questions that encourage them to find their own solution. I always praise the process, not the product.” Set an example A great way to encourage any behavior or habit you would like your children to develop is to set an example. If you would like them to become creative problem solvers, walk them through how you think of new ways to solve the problems you face in daily life. If you would like them to develop artistic talents, participate with your kids when they are making art projects or while they play pretend. You may feel you don’t have much of a creative side but you can use what interests you and bring your child alongside you. Whether it’s decorating, fashion, gardening, sewing, cooking or organizing, you can get your child involved and show her how you use your own creativity to do the things you love and create solutions for problems that arise. Continued on page 16
                                
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