With academics being pushed at a younger and younger age, we can sometimes forget to let kids be just that: kids. This is unfortunate because children can learn a lot through play, art, and pretend. Some aspects these areas help with are problem-solving, emotional regulation, and getting along with others.
Looking for fun ways to spark your child’s creative side? Check out the ideas below and see what unique creations your child comes up with!
Puppet Show
Puppets are both a lot of fun to make and play with. You can use just about anything you can think of for this activity, but some ideas include socks, craft sticks, and felt. It’s best to use fabric glue or hot glue to put them together, so an adult will need to help with that part. You may need to help your child cut parts out too. Let your child brainstorm what kind of puppets they would like to make: fairies, dragons, characters from their favorite TV show. Let their imaginations run free! Gather your supplies and get to work. They don’t need to be exact replicas, of course.
Once you’ve finished and the glue is dry, the only thing left to do is put on a show! If your child is having trouble coming up with a plan, help them brainstorm. The fairies are having a summer party, but a storm is coming. What will they do? Bluey’s family is going on vacation. Where will they go, and what will they do
there?
Felt Board
Felt is awesome because it tends to stick to itself, nullifying the need to use velcro, which can be difficult for young kids to pull apart. Plus, it comes in every color of the rainbow and then some, so you can get really creative with it.
Felt boards are super easy to make yourself. Cut a piece of sturdy poster board in half, and you can make two! All you need to do is cut a piece of felt slightly larger than the board and hot glue the edges to the back.
You can also make your own pieces to use on the felt board. But you can find them for sale online, too, if you feel your creative skills are lacking. These can be anything you like. Seasonal ones are always a hit. Set out some pieces for your child to make their own jack-o-lantern in the fall or the makings of a snowman in the winter. If you want to go a step further, you can make people with velcro clothing so your child can change them for the seasons. Possibilities are limitless. Ask your child for suggestions on what they would like for their felt board creations. If they want, have them tell you a story with their felt board.
Write a Story Together
Most kids aren’t asked to write stories until they are older or able to write on their own. But young children can come up with some very interesting tales! So, grab a pencil and paper and help them get their thoughts down on paper.
This may require some patience and/or guidance on your part. Some children are natural storytellers and will start spouting off their ideas right away. Others may need some help. A good place to start is with something they’re interested in. Does your child love horses? How about a story about a magical horse or what their dream horse would be like? Have a kid that’s into spooky things? Suggest a story about a haunted house. Once the story is finished, ask your child to draw a picture or two to go with it.
Open Art Time
A fun and simple way to get your child’s creative juices flowing is to have an open-ended art time. Set out some paper and art supplies such as crayons, paints, or colored pencils, and let them draw or paint whatever they like. Novel items they don’t get to use often or are completely new to them, such as modeling clay or oil pastels, are even better.
If your child wants to, you can always look up videos on different techniques you can use for each medium if your child wants to get better/learn more so they can create even more elaborate pictures. Although not exactly an art material, play-doh is fun and relaxing to create with too.
Open Play
Sometimes the best way to get kids to use their imaginations is the simplest. Take time out to just sit and play with your child. This can be with stuffed animals, action figures, Barbies, or whatever they like. Oftentimes, kids love making up stories for their toys when they play. They’ll be even more excited to have an extra set of hands and “characters” to add to their make-believe world.
Conclusion
There are tons of ways to let kids get creative and use their imaginations if we let them. Remember that not all kids love the same activities. So, if one is a flop, simply try another the next time!